Atlanta, Georgia (AP)--Just when the NFL thought they had cleared up all the mess, surrounding the Pro Bowl rosters, they were faced with another fiasco, as the 2006 Awards were earlier this week.

The NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2006: Thomas Jones

Though most awards were given to players who expected to take the award after they completed their respective seasons last week, the most important award caused the most noise, and not in a good way, as many believed the recipant to receive award was not the correct selection.
Thomas Jones, the Chicago Bears outstanding back took home the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award after a a moster season rushing for 1994 yards and 18 touchdowns while catching 50 passes for 439 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, despite his near 2000 yard season, this touchdown machine was not at all expected to take home the award.
Coming into the fnal week of the regular season many believe that the MVP race was a race, led by Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons. With Tennessee Titans rookie QB Vince Young and Buffalo Bills RB Willis McGahee being Vick’s closest competition, if there was any.
However, after Vick played little in the Falcons regular season finale, and Young and McGahee both failed to lead their respective teams to the playoff, Jones snuck in to steal the award from Vick, and leave the football nation, which was expecting the Falcons to take the award, in shock.
The 2006 season for Vick was one in which he prooved his critics wrong, becoming a premier passer as he completed 233 of his 406 attempts on his way to 2785 yards and 24 touchdowns. Vick also had his best season running the football, rushing for 845 yards and 8 TD’s.
Willis McGahee 2036 yard rushing season, made Jones’ near 2000 yard season almost go unnoticed as McGahee ran for the 3rd best rushing total in a single season, while also scoring 11 touchdowns.

Vince Young started what has become a player-hate relationship between himself and Thomas Jones

Young, who despite winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award hands down, was overly upset at the MVP believed strongly that it should have gone to another player. An opinion which Young voiced to the media, and which Jones responded to by saying “enjoy sitting at home and watching me play in the postseason.”
Young had a good reason to be upset, but taking home the OROTY award was still big for him as he rushed for a QB record 1606 yards and 10 touchdowns, while passing for a mediocre 2306 yards and 19 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the football there were no surprises as Browns linebacker Willie McGinest took home the Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 119 tackles, 17 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 recovered fumble. McGinest was the only bright spot on a Browns team that went 6-10 and will likely be in search of a new coach after Romeo Crenell has hinted at stepping down from his status as current Browns coach.
A.J. Hawk of the Packers was the Defensive Rookie of the Year after the ex-Buckeye notched a stellar premier season with 78 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 recovered fumble. Last year 22nd pick, Manny Lawson of the 49ers was a close runner up with 65 tackles and 10 sacks.
Finally, Lovie Smith achieved something which hadn’t been done in over 20 years as he took home the Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive year. The Bears head coach has Superbowl prospect in sight after leading his team to 13-3 record, tops amongst the NFL. Cardinals coach Dennis Green and Saints coach Sean Payton were close runner ups after leading their teams to premier status after battling adversity last year.

Award	Player	Stats	W-L
MVP	RB Thomas Jones (CHI)	449 ATT, 1994 YDS, 50 REC, 439 YDS, 22 TD	13-3
Offensive Player	RB Thomas Jones (CHI)	449 ATT, 1994 YDS, 50 REC, 439 YDS, 22 TD	13-3
Defensive Player	LB Willie McGinest (CLE)	119 TAC, 17 SACK, 3 INT, 3 FF, 6 RF	6-10
Offensive Rookie	QB Vince Young (TEN)	240/440 C/A, 2306 YDS, 19 TD, 1606 YDS Rushing, 10 TD	9-7
Defensive Rookie	LB A.J. Hawk (GB)	78 TAC, 8 SACK, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 RF	6-10
Coach	Lovie Smith (CHI)	13 Wins, 3 Losses, #1 Seed in NFC	13-3