Midseason Awards: McCarthy's working old-new magic

Judge's Midseason Awards

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy was leaning against a wall in the locker room at Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday talking to a visitor about his team's 33-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs when his quarterback came walking through the hall holding the hand of his 3-year-old nephew.

Mike McCarthy has brought out the best in Brett Favre. (US Presswire)

Brett Favre introduced McCarthy to the little boy and talked up the kid's knack for already knowing how to drop back like a quarterback.

"Show him," Favre told the boy.

The kid shuttled back and acted as if he were throwing a pass. McCarthy, not missing a beat, couldn't resist and cracked on his own quarterback.

"He has better footwork than Uncle Brett," McCarthy said.

Favre and his coach both laughed. It's that type of relationship that has helped make McCarthy the Halfway Coach of the Year in my midseason report.

McCarthy's Packers are 7-1 and have come off road victories at two of the toughest venues in the league, Denver and Kansas City. And they did it in a six-day period.

McCarthy has mixed the youngest roster in the league with a Hall of Fame quarterback and made first-half magic. But if you think this team is going anywhere but forward, think again.

It has talent on defense -- led by the great corners -- and it can score when it has to do so with Favre. The McCarthy-Favre relationship is a big reason the Packers have improved.

McCarthy has given Favre more input into the offense. He makes suggestions as to what might work in a week against a certain team. He also has more freedom at the line of scrimmage.

It's a relationship that has grown. McCarthy wants Favre to take fewer chances, which he is doing. In return, Favre gets more involvement in the offense.

But it's his work with the younger players that has really impressed and earned McCarthy this honor. On a team with 22 first- or second-year players, he has led the Packers to wins in all four of their road games. He's 9-3 on the road in his career.

"We're playing well," McCarthy said. "The guys have done a great job of staying focused on the road. We've got work to do, but we're getting there."

Green Bay is a franchise associated with great coaching. Lambeau. Lombardi. Holmgren. And now McCarthy is off to a good start, which is why he's the Halfway Coach of the Year.

Now for the rest of the awards:

MVP

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots: He has 33 touchdown passes in nine games. That's simply amazing.

2. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
3. Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
4. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
5. Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots.

Offensive player

Brady: Who else could it be?

2. Manning
3. Moss
3. Favre
4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
5. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defensive player

A. Haynesworth (US Presswire)

Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans: He has been a one-man wrecking ball in the middle of the line. His stats don't do him justice, even with the five sacks.

2. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
3. Nick Barnett, LB, Green Bay Packers
4. Jared Allen, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Barrett Ruud, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Offensive rookie

Peterson: Every time he touches the ball, he's a threat to go all the way. His career will be special.

2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills
3. James Jones, WR, Packers.

Defensive rookie

Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers: He's a tackling machine, leading the NFL.

2. Amobi Okoye, DT, Texans
3. Jon Beason, LB, Panthers
4. LaRon Landry, S, Redskins
5. David Harris, LB, Jets
6. Tanard Jackson, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coach

Mike McCarthy. At 7-1, the Packers are for real.

2. Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions
3. Romeo Crennel, Cleveland Browns
4. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants
5. Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Assistant coach

Jim Schwartz, Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator: He has molded together a heck of a unit without premier corner Pacman Jones. He will get some head-coaching interviews come January.

2. Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator, New England Patriots
3. Jason Garrett, offensive coordinator, Dallas Cowboys
4. Dante Scarnecchia, offensive line coach, New England Patriots.

Biggest surprise team

Browns. At 5-3, they can score on anybody.

2. Lions
3. Bucs.

Most disappointing team

Chicago Bears: At 3-5, they're at the bottom of their division. We know the offense has had problems, but the defense hasn't been good, either.

2. Denver Broncos
3. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Philadelphia Eagles
3. St. Louis Rams.

Biggest surprise player

Derek Anderson (US Presswire)

Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland Browns: He's keeping Brady Quinn on the bench but also making himself some money down the road.

2. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans
3. Derrick Ward, RB, New York Giants.

Most improved player

Anderson: See above.

2. Jermaine Phillips, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland Browns
4. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona Cardinals
5. Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants
6. Marion Barber, RB, Dallas Cowboys
7. Michael Roos, T, Tennessee Titans.

Most disappointing player

(tie) Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams: They've been Fantasy killers for a lot of people.

2. Joey Porter, LB, Miami Dolphins
3. Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis Rams
4. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers.

Best trend

Passing the football more: That's always a good thing. We're seeing a lot of coaches unafraid of taking shots down the field.

Worst trend

A lot of injuries to major players: Why? The league has to look into this closely.

Best moment

It's still Favre breaking Dan Marino's career touchdown pass record.

Worst moment

Spygate: When the integrity of the game is brought into question, it has to be the worst moment.

Best free-agent pickup

Jeff Garcia, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He has helped put them atop the NFC South at 37 years old.

2. Adalius Thomas, LB, New England Patriots
3. Leonard Davis, G, Dallas Cowboys
4. Cato June, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Sean Mahan, C, Pittsburgh Steelers.