Season 4: Spotlight Storylines

As with each season, who are your spotlight players that we will then vote on for player of the year considerations?  Post your nominations below.

*No repeats for any past award winners. So WR Calvin Johnson, MLB Patrick Willis, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. I'll sort out Season 2 nominees in a moment.  Carlos Hyde would be eligible for Ken since he won Offensive RotY with the 49ers. Rookie nominees can be re-nominated for Offensive/Defensive player awards in the following years.

Bears Nominations:
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Mario "The Captain" Jeter
Could it really be anyone else? I'm chomping at the bit to see what I can do with this guy. He completed a Hail Mary in the preseason just because he could. Jeter can run and throw, and has an absurd number of weapons at his disposal, and an All-Pro cast of big uglies up front to buy him time to work his magic. Hopefully Jeffery, Marshall, Forte, Patterson, Lofton, Wilson, Walden, and Sensabaugh don't get too jealous with each other for having to share attention.

Defensive Player of the Year: ROLB Dalton Stumph
EA absolutely robbed Stumph of a Rookie of the Year award in Season 2. He came back with a vengeance to help lead the Bears defense to the Super Bowl in season 3's sim. In his third year, he's ready for some real hardware. He's lightning fast, able to cover any TE, and many WR's if needed, is fierce in run fits with great pursuit, and has great awareness and coverage skills in general.

Rookie of the Year: DE Santario Harrison
Harrison was a huge surprise in training camp, already the Bears 2nd best Defensive End, but Lamarr Houston has to worry about losing that honor very soon. Lightning quick, Harrison is ready to feast on QBs with Suh, Paea, and Houston demanding double teams with their strength.

Free Agent Signing of the Year: WR Cordarrelle Patterson
How many Vikings fans are puking right now to see Patterson in blue and orange? Probably as many old Bears fans no longer need viagra.  Patterson in the slot is dangerous as all get out, plus he's returning kicks for even more touches.  Who are defenses going to cover in Chicago?

Offensive POTY:  WR Randall Cobb. It's no secret the Packers are a pass-happy offense even under new coach Rex Ryan. And Cobb is as dangerous as they come, on the outside and in the slot whenever Rodgers needs to make a big play. 

Defensive POTY: MLB Ches Phelps. A Top-10 pick a few seasons ago Phelps has nicely grown and developed and shed that bust label as he has morphed into an outstanding Inside Linebacker. His freakish athleticism (for a white guy) will need to be his biggest asset as the Packers try to improve their run defense and slow down opposing offenses. 

Rookie OTY: C Jarqueze Blake. (I think thats his name). Packers used the last draft as a 'meat & potatoes' type draft hoping to bolster both trench lines. Blake will be the starting center and counted on to lead a strong offensive line. 

Free Agent Signing: Ted Thompson laughs at your foolish FA signings.

If it's all the same to you E, the Jaguars would like to opt out of any poty nominees being announced at this time as their owner is a state of displeasure with his current squad. He may change his mind later on but as for now, there will be no Jaguars on the list of nominations.

Vikings Nominations:

Offensive Player of the Year: Touchdown Teddy.  With improved accuracy, Teddy looks to lead the Vikes in a bounce back year.  With a young, inexperienced roster they will need his now veteran leadership more than ever this season.

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Barr.  Because he flies around the field like Superman, and with 90 speed, he's almost as fast too.

Rookie of the Year: DeVonne Klein.  AP is gone (   ) and Klein is looking to fill some very large shoes.  If the Vikings stay run heavy, he will get plenty of chances to get rolling.  If Teddy looks to the air more, watch out for WR Yakov Hayes, another promising rookie.

Free Agent Signing of the Year: Captain Munnerlyn.  It should have been a resigning, but Munnerlyn decided to test the FA waters.  After sitting through 2 waves of 0 offers, the Vikings came back and lowballed him an offer worth less than if he would have resigned in the first place.  He will play an important part in the passing D leading the way in the secondary.

Also in a very close 2nd, Punter Steve Weatherford, because that's just how shitty this offseason was.

Offensive POTY- 2nd Year RB Jason Saunders

Defensive POTY- FS Laron Landry


Rookie OTY- RB Jabrian Massey


Free Agent Signing OTY- CB Johnathan Joseph

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Skylar Murray 
"I'm better than Mario Jeter. He's the prom queen that everyone wants to go to the dance with. I'm the nerd who gets the makeover and wows everyone at the dance. No one knows it yet, but they will." - Skylar Murray

Defensive Player of the Year: CB Brandon Flowers
Last year, Flowers had 8 picks. The year before, he had 7. Now that he's covering lesser WRs on the other side, expect him to just terrorize offenses. 

Rookie of the Year: LOLB Korbin Dowling
Drafted in the second round to back up and eventually take over for Tamba Hali, Dowling is a talented albeit raw prospect. He will take minimal snaps, so he will be limited this year. Expect him to take on a bigger role should any injuries occur. 

Free Agent Signing of the Year: MLB Sean Lee
So many FAs to choose from. From CB Sean Smith to WR Jeremy Maclin, any one of them could make a big impact. But I had to go with the guy who steps in and becomes an instant leader on the defense. If Lee can stay healthy, he will be all over the field.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Derek Carr
After beating out fellow 2nd round draft choice, Franck Lindsay, for the starting quarterback gig. Carr looks to show the nation what he's really about.

Defensive Player of the Year: LOLB Khalil Mack
After a down year, Khalil looks to rebound with a new defensive scheme.

Rookie of the Year: DT Harlos Elmore
Drafted in the first round. Harlos Elmore will need to show the Raiders that they weren't wrong of taking him with the 14th overall pick.

Free Agent Signing of the Year: CB T.J. Carrie
The new Raiders regime came in and brought in their own guys to fit what they're about. Carrie finds himself back on the Raiders roster, after being previously cut few weeks back.  He takes over as the starting cornerback after the recently released Brandon Browner.

OPotY- WR Olajuwan "The Monster" Murphey
I was going with the Oline here but Murphey is too good to pass up. Defenses must know where the monster is at all times or watch him dance in the end zone. After the greatest rookie year in history, Murphey has his sights set on another huge season.
DPotY- CB Trufant
Just signed to a huge deal, this cb helps solidify the secondary. Trufant is expecting 10plus ints.
RotY- LB B.Patrick
Drafted inthe 2nd rd, he walked into training camp 84 ovr and 90plus spd and star potential.  Though he will be a backup this yr, he is still expected to make a big impact. D.Fords contract leverage has all but disappeared with Patrick on board.
FAPotY- LE S.Richardson
Chiefs goal in the offseason was to beef up the defense. In comes the young stud Richardson boasting 94 acc. He will be aiming for the NFL sack record this year and possibly def player of the year, following in the other Chief players foot steps.

Offensive Player of the Year: WR Michael Crabtree
The Niners have liked what they've seen  from 3rd year pro Randy Alexander, but they desperately need Crabtree to  be one of the best WRs in the  NFL since they missed out on All World rookie  Derwin  Blair.


Defensive Player of the Year: CB Lance Stevenson
Because the obvious  choice  for DPOTY(/Universe) isn't eligible for some reason.

Rookie of the Year: HB Jadarius Drummond
San Francisco traded all their draft picks and a  lifetime supply of  Ghirardelli Chocolate for the entire city of Jacksonville for the rights to Drummond -- he fucking better be  the rookie of the year for the Niners.

Free Agent Signing of the Year: FS Quintin Demps
The FASY by default is a guy who will likely never see  the field, because the Niners refuse  to pay a receiver who has never lived up to the hype 100 million dollars and every other free agent a lifetime contract to avoid cap penalties.

Offensive Player of the Year: WR - Sammy Watkins

Underachieving top choice WR of the 2014 draft, his rookie year was marred with injury showing flashes of brilliance throughout the season. Averaging 55.9 yards per game with 13 touchdowns, he moves into his 3rd year to prove that the Bills faith in his superstar potential was not unfounded.

Defensive Player of the Year: DE -  Mario Williams

The defensive anchor and oldest member of the Bills, Mario Williams enters this season with eleven years of experience under his belt. A perennial all-star, this season marks the final year of his contract with the Bills and is now faced with the task of overcoming the test of father time.

Rookie of the Year: ROLB - Jared Parker


Free Agent Signing of the Year: QB - Alex Smith

Offensive player of the year:
WR Mike Evans - With the additions of Markus Wheaton, Terrance Williams, and third year WR Robert Herron stepping up Evans is the #1 WR in a very potente WR core, and is hoping to play well in that role since VJax was released. 

Defensive player of the year:
LOLB Lavonte David - With this most likely being his last year in Tampa(cap issues) Lavonte has continued his excellence and is hoping to get DPOY in the NFC.

Rookie of the year:
RE Jeron Swanson - This first round talent has so far lived up to his talent as he has replaced Chris Long as starting RE and has two sacks in two games.

Free agent signing of the year:
QB Jerrod Johnson - After Johnson declined the Team's offer last season he went to Free Agency and received zero offers and gladly resigned in Tampa on a one year deal and won the starting QB battle over rookie QB Ben Ferrell.

Raiders banking on Khalil Mack and TJ Carrie to win awards.  Derek Carr is done for season, and the rookie DT Harlos Elmore got demoted to 4th string DT

Offensive Player of the Year:
TE Marcedes Lewis - With experience on his side, look for QB Sal Foster to favor Mr. Lewis in the passing game as the season rolls on and for Lewis to be the number one player on offense as the team continues to look for magic that just hasn't existed since Jones-Drew left the squad.

Defensive Player of the Year:
SS Johnathan Cyprien - Despite getting injured early on in the season, this strong safety carries the goods for this not so daring defense. Even with all the weapons the D has to offer, Owner DemonX looks for this guy to carry the load and make big plays as the season rolls on.

Rookie of the Year:
ROLB Bradford Baca - Not necessarily a playmaker as of yet, but in the making of becoming one. This stud LB is a quick learner and made a helluva a debut in his week one game leading the team in tackles. HB Eldon Lattimore would be first choice for RotY if not for the teams weak linemen. So look for Baca to continue making an impact for this team.

Free Agent Signing of the Year:
MLB Paul Posluzny - After not resigning with the team in the offseason, Paul looked to test the waters in the FA Pool. With little to no interest from the League's other teams, Posluzny found himself back in the Black in Jacksonville, Florida.