NFL Odds: Dez Bryant Among Rookie Favorites
The Vikings' Percy Harvin became the eighth wide receiver to win NFL Rookie of the Year honors last season. Performing double-duty as Minnesota's primary kick returner pushed him over the top of other notable first year players like Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews. The 2010 winner just might come from the receiver ranks as well with Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys among the betting favorites currently.
It’s not easy being the new guy at work. Maybe you have skill and dedication and a college degree, but do people know you well enough to hand you the ball?
They might if you work in the NFL. Rookie players are the lifeblood of this sport; offensive and defensive linemen are ready to contribute straight out of college, as are many running backs. The harder the job description, the more seasoning a rookie football player is likely to need.
But even first-year quarterbacks are getting the job done these days. Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Vince Young (2006), and Matt Ryan (2008) have all won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award this decade. The only other QB to win was Dennis Shaw for the 1970 Buffalo Bills.
Now that the NFL draft has come and gone, we’ve got the early betting odds on whom the AP will name Rookie of the Year (offensive and defensive) for 2010. Here are the top three candidates on either side of the field.
Offense
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (+500)
Bryant was a standout for the Oklahoma Sooners, but was ruled ineligible in October 2009 after he was found to be not entirely forthcoming about his interaction with Deion Sanders. So into the NFL draft he went. Character concerns were enough for Bryant to fall to No. 24 in the first round, where the Cowboys gladly snapped him up. Wide receivers have won eight of the 43 awards; Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings added to the total in 2009.
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers (+500)
This award used to be primarily for running backs – they won 29 of the first 36 awards, but only two of the last seven as the NFL trends toward the passing game. Mathews is in a strong position to bring back the hardware. He was the leading rusher in college last year with 150.7 yards per game for the Fresno State Bulldogs, and he’s replacing another former WAC sensation, LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers have pretty much all the other parts in place for a Super Bowl run; they’re 11-1 to win it all, behind only the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts at 9-1.
Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans (+600)
The Texans appeared to have their running game all sorted out, but Steve Slaton had a terrible sophomore season and was put on injured reserve in December. So Houston spent its second-round pick (no. 58 overall) on Ben Tate of the Auburn Tigers. Tate was outstanding last year in the spread offense, gaining 1,362 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and rushing for 10 touchdowns. But he’s been drafted for use in short-yardage situations as a complementary back to Slaton.
Defense
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (+500)
Linebackers have won the last seven Defensive Rookie of the Year awards and 23 out of 44 (Buddy Curry and Al Richardson of the Atlanta Falcons shared in 1980). However, Suh is an excellent choice to be the first tackle to get the nod since Tim Bowens of the 1994 Miami Dolphins. Suh was drafted second overall out of Nebraska, where he was a Heisman finalist and the 2009 AP Player of the Year – an excellent omen considering the AP also decides ROY honors.
Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (+500)
The last safety to win this award was Mark Carrier of the 1990 Chicago Bears. Erik McMillan (1988 New York Jets) was the only other. The trick here from a handicapping perspective is that Berry is flexible enough to play either safety or cornerback for the Chiefs, who certainly need the help in the secondary. Berry was taken fifth overall out of Tennessee and will have a chance to rack up impressive statistics for both tackles and interceptions, and sports writers are easily swayed by shiny numbers.
Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (+800)
Thomas learned his craft under Mack Brown at Texas, but left after just two years (plus a redshirt year) to join the draft. Seattle grabbed him with the No. 14 pick; like Berry, Thomas will be plugged into the secondary right away. He’ll be busy tracking down passes, too, because Seattle remains weak on the pass rush as Pete Carroll steps in to rescue the program. But even with Carroll on board, there’s a certain anonymity that comes with playing in the Pacific Northwest. No Seahawk has ever won the ROY award since the team was founded in 1976.
The Vikings' Percy Harvin became the eighth wide receiver to win NFL Rookie of the Year honors last season. Performing double-duty as Minnesota's primary kick returner pushed him over the top of other notable first year players like Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews. The 2010 winner just might come from the receiver ranks as well with Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys among the betting favorites currently.
It’s not easy being the new guy at work. Maybe you have skill and dedication and a college degree, but do people know you well enough to hand you the ball?
They might if you work in the NFL. Rookie players are the lifeblood of this sport; offensive and defensive linemen are ready to contribute straight out of college, as are many running backs. The harder the job description, the more seasoning a rookie football player is likely to need.
But even first-year quarterbacks are getting the job done these days. Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Vince Young (2006), and Matt Ryan (2008) have all won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award this decade. The only other QB to win was Dennis Shaw for the 1970 Buffalo Bills.
Now that the NFL draft has come and gone, we’ve got the early betting odds on whom the AP will name Rookie of the Year (offensive and defensive) for 2010. Here are the top three candidates on either side of the field.
Offense
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (+500)
Bryant was a standout for the Oklahoma Sooners, but was ruled ineligible in October 2009 after he was found to be not entirely forthcoming about his interaction with Deion Sanders. So into the NFL draft he went. Character concerns were enough for Bryant to fall to No. 24 in the first round, where the Cowboys gladly snapped him up. Wide receivers have won eight of the 43 awards; Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings added to the total in 2009.
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers (+500)
This award used to be primarily for running backs – they won 29 of the first 36 awards, but only two of the last seven as the NFL trends toward the passing game. Mathews is in a strong position to bring back the hardware. He was the leading rusher in college last year with 150.7 yards per game for the Fresno State Bulldogs, and he’s replacing another former WAC sensation, LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers have pretty much all the other parts in place for a Super Bowl run; they’re 11-1 to win it all, behind only the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts at 9-1.
Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans (+600)
The Texans appeared to have their running game all sorted out, but Steve Slaton had a terrible sophomore season and was put on injured reserve in December. So Houston spent its second-round pick (no. 58 overall) on Ben Tate of the Auburn Tigers. Tate was outstanding last year in the spread offense, gaining 1,362 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and rushing for 10 touchdowns. But he’s been drafted for use in short-yardage situations as a complementary back to Slaton.
Defense
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (+500)
Linebackers have won the last seven Defensive Rookie of the Year awards and 23 out of 44 (Buddy Curry and Al Richardson of the Atlanta Falcons shared in 1980). However, Suh is an excellent choice to be the first tackle to get the nod since Tim Bowens of the 1994 Miami Dolphins. Suh was drafted second overall out of Nebraska, where he was a Heisman finalist and the 2009 AP Player of the Year – an excellent omen considering the AP also decides ROY honors.
Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (+500)
The last safety to win this award was Mark Carrier of the 1990 Chicago Bears. Erik McMillan (1988 New York Jets) was the only other. The trick here from a handicapping perspective is that Berry is flexible enough to play either safety or cornerback for the Chiefs, who certainly need the help in the secondary. Berry was taken fifth overall out of Tennessee and will have a chance to rack up impressive statistics for both tackles and interceptions, and sports writers are easily swayed by shiny numbers.
Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (+800)
Thomas learned his craft under Mack Brown at Texas, but left after just two years (plus a redshirt year) to join the draft. Seattle grabbed him with the No. 14 pick; like Berry, Thomas will be plugged into the secondary right away. He’ll be busy tracking down passes, too, because Seattle remains weak on the pass rush as Pete Carroll steps in to rescue the program. But even with Carroll on board, there’s a certain anonymity that comes with playing in the Pacific Northwest. No Seahawk has ever won the ROY award since the team was founded in 1976.
