2014 Zoneblitz NFL Awards

We’re winding down to the last week of the NFL season. I often find the Super Bowl a bit depressing because it means no more football for the next six months. But now we start the process of figuring out why things went the way they did in 2014 and what teams have to change heading into the next campaign.

With that, we’ll re-live some of the great moments of the current season with our first ever Zoneblitz NFL Awards. The winners are up here at the top. And our individual ballots (all three of them) are published with some explanations below. Enjoy – and tell us where you agree and where you think we’re nuts.

Most Valuable Player: JJ Watt, Texans
Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt, Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Odell Beckham, Giants
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams
Comeback Player of the Year: Rolando McClain, Cowboys
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians, Cardinals
Executive of the Year: (Tie) Stephen Jones, Cowboys and Steve Keim, Cardinals
Douchebag of the Year: (Tie) Roger Goodell, Commissioner and Ray Rice, unemployed
Offensive Douchebag of the Year: (Tie) Dominic Raiola, Lions and Johnny Manziel, Browns
Defensive Douchebag of the Year: (Tie) Ndamukong Suh, Lions and Vontaze Burfict, Bengals
Douchebag Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, 49ers
Play of the Year: Odell Beckham’s catch
Wasted Draft Pick of the Year: Johnny Manziel, Browns
Steal of the Draft: Seantrel Henderson, Bills
Fantasy Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
Incompetent Survivor Pool Participant: Tony
Hottest Coaching Seat of 2015: Jay Gruden

Andy Tellijohn, editorial director

Most Valuable Player

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. JJ Watt, Texans
3. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys

As much as I would like to give the nod to Watt or Murray, Rodgers was simply too good. Watt had as good a year as a defensive player can have and he chipped in on offense too. Murray finally got the chance to show what he could do on a consistent basis and look what happened: Romo was better, Dez was better and the Cowboys won 12 games. Go figure.

Offensive Player of the Year

1. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
2. Andrew Luck, Colts
3. Odell Beckham, Giants

While I couldn’t vote Murray the league’s MVP, I think he was hands down the offensive player of the year. He outrushed the next closest runner by 500 yards. And, as noted above, his contributions made so many facets of the Cowboys’ team better. Luck was also great and Beckham will probably win this award sometime in the next couple years.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. JJ Watt, Texans
2. Justin Houston, Chiefs
3. Von Miller, Broncos

I don’t think anyone else deserves a vote besides Watt. But 22 sacks warrant a mention for Houston. The third slot could go to any number of solid players. I’ll go with the best player on the Broncos’ defense.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

1. Odell Beckham, Giants
2. Zack Martin, Cowboys
3. Jeremy Hill, Bengals

No question about this one – Odell Beckham single-handedly recharged the Dallas offense. Martin gets my number two nod for his role in protecting Tony Romo and steamrolling a path to the Pro Bowl for DeMarco Murray and himself. Third slot is a wide open battle, but I give the nod to Hill, who improved throughout the year – and won me a fantasy title. Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr deserve mention too – this was a strong rookie class.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

1. Jason Donald, Rams
2. (Tie) Anthony Barr, Vikings/Khalil Mack, Raiders

This was another strong category. We’re going to look back at this draft as a spot where a lot of the league’s future great players emerged. Jason Donald broke in on an already great line and is going to the Pro Bowl. He was a notch above a handful of guys who are going to help rebuild a couple of previously moribund defenses.

Comeback Player of the Year

1. Rolando McClain, Cowboys
2. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
3. Julio Jones, Falcons

There were some really solid candidates for this award, but you can’t really argue with McClain, who was out of the game after not giving a crap. He re-emerged as almost a desperation pick-up for Dallas and helped turn around what had been projected to be a hideous group.

Coach of the Year

1. Bruce Arians, Cardinals
2. Jason Garrett, Cowboys
3. (Tie) Bill O’Brien, Texans/Doug Marrone, Bills

Arians held together a team that started 9-1 after two starting QBs went down and steered it to the playoffs. Ryan Lindley anyone? Doug Marrone had Buffalo playing meaningful games in December for the first time this century.

Executive of the Year

1. Stephen Jones, Cowboys
2. Steve Keim, Cardinals
3. Bill Belichick, Patriots

The Cowboys went to the playoffs not because of anything Jerry Jones did, but very much because son Stephen kept Jerry from doing what he wanted to – drafting Johnny Manziel. The Cowboys went with Zack Martin, putting the final touches on arguably the league’s best offensive line. Stephen seems to get what Jerry does not – the sexy pick is often not the right one. Keim would be a great winner here too, given that he brought in Arians a year ago and helped hold the team together in MacGyver –like fashion after the loss of two starting QBs.

Douchebag of the Year

1. Roger Goodell, Commissioner
2. Ray Rice, unemployed
3. Tie between many, many players

Ray Rice’s actions were deplorable. Roger Goodell’s ham-handed handling of the situation was nearly as bad. I admit – I stacked the deck on this one to make sure we could get them both in the “winner’s” section. Both of these clowns deserve to be called out for what they contributed to the season.

Offensive Douchebag of the Year

1. Johnny Manziel
2. Mike Wallace
3. Dominic Raiola

Wow. There are a lot of directions you could go here. I’ll go Manziel at the top because he had the hopes and dreams of a long-waiting city on his shoulders and reports are starting to come out that he just didn’t give a damn. Browns fans deserve better than this clown. I went with Wallace second because he reportedly quit on his team numerous times. He’s a prima donna extraordinaire. And then Raiola being dumb and neanderthalic enough to get himself suspended for a must-win game puts him on the list too. But this list could go on and on.

Defensive Douchebag of the Year

1. Vontaze Burfict
2. Ndamukong Suh
3. Sio Moore/Khalil Mack

Burfict and Suh kind of speak for themselves. Burfict was fined for intentionally trying to injure an opponent. Suh was involved in the calf-stepping incident against Aaron Rodgers in the finale. I actually think there is a real chance that Suh’s situation was momentum, lack of balance and the speed of the game, but whether I’m right or wrong on that, he’s got to know he is under the microscope. The two Raiders … I really like, in particular, Mack. But they deserve recognition for celebrating a sack 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage in their first win against Kansas City, forcing Justin Tuck to call timeout to avoid an offsides penalty. Gotta know the situation, guys.

Douchebag Coach of the Year

1. Doug Marrone, Buffalo
2. Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco
3. Jeff Fisher, St. Louis

Marrone overplayed his hand in Buffalo, took $4 million and ran, apparently thinking he’d land another job without a problem. How’s that looking? At least Jim Harbaugh’s exit – which arguably was equal part him and the team – came with a better backup landing plan. See John Vomhof’s explanation on the Fisher vote.

Play of the Year

1. Odell Beckham’s catch
2. Anything else

I don’t know that this one needs a lot of expansion. It was one of the most amazing plays I’ve ever seen.

Wasted Draft Pick of the Year

1. Johnny Manziel, Browns
2. Justin Gilbert, Browns
3. Jadaveon Clowney, Texans

There are a couple of themes that pop out here. First, this is why the Browns continue to struggle. I think it’s too early to write the book on either one of these guys. Gilbert, in particular, has a shot to turn it around. From what I read, it’s questionable whether Manziel wants it enough. The other theme is that these guys came out of college with questionable reputations. Clowney’s issues this past season were largely injury-related, but there were starting to be whispers toward the end of the season that coaches thought he should have been far enough along in his recovery to play. If I were running a team – and I never will be – but if I were, I’d be looking at talent, but also at guys who are supremely dedicated to the game and to getting better, rather than hanging out and enjoying the night life.

Fantasy Player of the Year

1. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
2. Andrew Luck, Colts
3. Antonio Brown, Steelers

There are so many ways to go on this. Murray was the most dominant throughout the season. I thought Odell Beckham, as during the stretch run, he was the best producing WR, but Antonio Brown was the best through the entire course of the season – and he was amazing. Andrew Luck – I had him on a roster along with Matt Stafford at the beginning of the season. I traded Luck early on, when it looked like the coaching staff was resisting taking the gloves off. The following week he went off. I made the wrong move. I finished third instead of first.

Steal of the Draft

1. Seantrel Henderson, Bills
2. Corey Linsley, Packers
3. Toby Borland, 49ers

As it always does, the draft produced some later round stalwarts who outperform the more celebrated college and workout stars. But it surprised me the impact that Seantrel Henderson had in Buffalo (I confess, he was so far off my radar that I had to reorder my selections here after I saw my brother’s ballot). He came off a troubled college career to start 16 games at right tackle for the Bills after being taken in the seventh round. Corey Linsley was grabbed two rounds earlier by Green Bay. He started at center the entire season. Toby Borland chipped in well on an injured 49ers defense. Jeremy Hill and Martavis Bryant might have been sexier picks for this award, but they didn’t have season-long impacts and they were still picked higher in the draft than Henderson and Linsley.

Incompetent Survivor Pool Participant

1. (Tie) John, Andy, Tony

Tony ended up winning this category by voting himself as most incompetent. In truth, the only one of us who wasn’t terrible was Fantasy Editor Anthony Maggio, who went 16-1 in our double-elimination format. The rest of us had missed so many games by mid-season that we started a consolation pool – which we all were eliminated from early on. So … we’ll probably do that again next season, but use our advice with a grain of salt.

Hottest Coaching Seat of 2015

1. Joe Philbin, Dolphins
2. Jay Gruden, Redskins
3. Jeff Fisher, Rams

I’ve got a friend in Florida who was dumbstruck Philbin kept his job after this season. The Dolphins just seem a bit … lost. It seems like that team should be capable of more. Gruden is a no-brainer. Daniel Snyder goes through coaches like I go through M&Ms. Fisher may be a bit of a surprise – and he’s in the toughest division in football – but when is the last time one of his teams really did much? He’s got to produce soon or a growing feeling that he’s a bit overrated isn’t going to go away.

Tony Tellijohn, co-owner

Most Valuable Player

1. JJ Watt, Texans
2. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
3. LeVeon Bell, Steelers

I hate the QB’s getting all the glory. If I could figure out how to get an OL into the balloting I would. As is, I’ll give it to a defensive guy who plays some offense, and look at a couple of RBs right behind.

Offensive Player of the Year

1. Andrew Luck, Colts
2. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
3. Joe Thomas, Browns

Luck gets the nod for his 4,700 yards passing and 40 TD season. Not record breaking, but he’s also only in his third year. Now if he would not grow that scruffy beard, he might get some MVP consideration. Joe Thomas makes my list hear, just for standing up for Brian Hoyer when the Browns coach asked veteran leaders about starting Johnny Manziel.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. JJ Watt, Texans
2. Luke Keuchly, Panthers
3. DeAndre Levy, Lions

Watt is the hands down winner here. Keuchly is the only one who comes close. The third spot…I’m putting DeAndre Levy in the mix, as the Lions gave up just 69 yards rushing per game, and it would be nice to see someone other than Suh get all the credit.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

1. Odell Beckham, Giants
2. Mike Evans, Buccaneers
3. Zack Martin, Cowboys

Tough to go anywhere other than WR for this spot, but I’ll throw Zack Martin in the mix as a rookie making the Pro Bowl.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

1. Aaron Donald, Rams
2. Anthony Barr, Vikings
3. CJ Mosley, Lions

Kahlil Mack could have been in the conversation in place of Barr, but having seen the impact Barr had on the Vikings defense, I’m adding him to the mix.

Comeback Player of the Year

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
2. Von Miller, Broncos
3. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles

Gronk is a big dumb animal, but you can’t argue with his year. Maclin makes my list solely because he was the only productive WR I had on a fantasy team. Just as good a reason as most of the real reporters probably have.

Coach of the Year

1. Doug Marrone, Bills
2. Bruce Arians, Cardinals
3. Jason Garrett, Cowboys

Marrone made the call to bench EJ Manual, and got the team playing well with Kyle Orton. If they get a real QB, watch out. Arians held the team together through two quarterback injuries. And Jason Garrett managed to get more out of his team, despite Jerry Jones. If only they had taken Manziel, they would have been a train wreck.

Executive of the Year

Abstaining from voting. Who the hell cares about these guys? If I have to, give it to the guy from the Bills. Followed by Jerry Jones’ kid, for not letting Daddy draft Manziel.

Douchebag of the Year

1. Roger Goodell, commissioner
2. Ray Rice, unemployed
3. Josh Gordon, Browns

There are so many deserving candidates.

Offensive Douchebag of the Year

1. Dominic Raiola, Lions
2. Johnny Manziel, Browns
3. Josh Gordon, Browns

Bet you thought I’d go Manziel? Ray Rice could have made it, but he didn’t play. Gordon getting suspended twice in a season shows he doesn’t get it. I thought about putting RGME on here too.

Defensive Douchebag of the Year:

1. Ndamanamawhateer Suh, Lions
2. Lamarr Houston, Bears
3. Richard Sherman, Seahawks

You step on Rodgers, risk suspension (not sure how he avoided it, frankly), but you don’t make sure he’s actually out? And blowing an ACL while celebrating a sack of a backup QB while down 28 points….ug. Could easily top the list, if not for Suh’s history of douchebaggery.

Douchebag Coach of the Year

1. Jim Harbaugh, 49ers
2. Rex Ryan, Jets
3. Tom Coughlin, Giants

Play of the Year

1. Odell Beckham catch
2. Andy Dalton TD catch, week 3
3. Johnny Manziel trick play, week 3

It’s not easy to find play highlights for some reason. NFL.com seems to think everything is a highlight, not to mention an opportunity to show an ad. For some reason I was forced several times to watch a highlight of Le’Veon Bell watching a highlight of his knee hyper extending last week. All to try to find a play that would beat out the catch Odell Beckham Jr.

If I had time, I’m sure I could find some better , but I’m reasonably sure it would win anyway. I throw Dalton into the mix because I love quarterbacks catching passes—it’s only better when they throw it to themselves, ala Brad Johnson. And Manziel’s trick play? Not here because of what a great play it was—it’s here for a few other reasons … like the late shove out of bounds applied by Ravens DB Jimmy Smith that went uncalled. The fact that the play was nullified by a penalty for illegal shift. The fact that the play should have been called unsportsmanlike conduct and resulted in a 15 yard penalty for the Browns. And the fact that they went on to lose the game. What a perfect play to sum up Johnny Manziel’s first NFL season.

Wasted Draft Pick of the Year

1. Johnny Manziel, Browns
2. Johnny Manziel, Browns
3. Johnny Manziel, Browns
4. Jadeveon Clowney, Texans
5. Justin Gilbert, Browns

Normally you have to be higher on the draft list to be a bust this quickly. But Manziel really is a special player in this way.

Steal of the Draft

1. Seantrel Henderson, Bills
2. Martavis Bryant, Steelers
3. Jeremy Hill, Bengals

Seantrel who? I only know of him due to his Minnesota connection, but check out this article.

He started 16 games, the first seventh round pick to do so since 2004. Improved throughout the year, was graded as a winning player in 15 of his 16 starts by Doug Marrone (former lineman and OL coach), allowed only six sacks in 632 passing plays, and was one of six tackles to play 1,000 snaps and have four or fewer penalties.

Fantasy Player of the Year

1. LeVeon Bell, Steelers
2. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

I weighted my picks here based on how they did down the stretch, and from what I saw no one was better than Bell down the stretch at the RB position. DeMarco Murray might have been a little better for the whole season, but Bell outpaced him the last five weeks of the season. Beckham seemed to sleep walk through the first part of the season, to the point that he was available on waivers in several leagues, before blowing up for the second half of the season. Gronk is a big dumb animal, but he was finally the reliable TE option the Patriots and fantasy owners have been looking for over the last couple years.

Incompetent Survival Pool Picker

How anyone could choose anyone other than me is absurd. Did I even last to week three?

Hottest Coaching Seat

1. Ron Rivera, Panthers
2. Jay Gruden, Redskins
3. Mike Pettine, Browns

Rivera led his team to the playoffs, but no one really thinks they deserved it. Gruden has the whole quarterback situation working against him, not to mention his clown owner. Mike Pettine is in one of the least stable situations in the NFL, even more so than Washington, and may have an even worse quarterback situation than Gruden.

John Vomhof Jr., contributing writer

Most Valuable Player

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. JJ Watt, Texans
3. Andrew Luck, Colts

Watt had one of the most dominant seasons ever by a defensive lineman, but ultimately QB is simply a more valuable position in today’s NFL. Rodgers’ play down the stretch was historically good. The final spot was tough, but I went Luck because he carried a Colts team that has no running game and no defense. Too many other candidates split votes with team teammates (e.g. Brady/Gronk and Murray/Romo).

Offensive Player of the Year

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Rodgers finished the season with a mind blowing 38:5 TD-to-INT ratio, a 112.2 passer rating and the fifth 4,000-yard season of his career. Murray, meanwhile, helped carry the Cowboys offense, helping take pressure off the defense by moving the chains and eating clock all season. Gronk is the best player at his position and completely transforms the Patriots offense whenever he’s on the field.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. JJ Watt, Texans
2. Justin Houston, Chiefs
3. Richard Sherman, Seahawks

Watt is in a class of his own. The guy is just plain special — I’m talking Reggie White/Bruce Smith-special. Houston, meanwhile, finished with 22 sacks, 0.5 short of the NFL record, and Sherman remains the top league’s top shutdown corner.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

1. Odell Beckham, Giants
2. Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings
3. Zack Martin, Cowboys

Beckham was an absolutely game changer for the Giants, posting a 91-1,305-12 stat line despite missing four games. That was enough to push him to the top of a star-studded WR class that also included the likes of Tampa’s Mike Evans (hard to leave him off this list).

Still, this was a close call for me. Bridgewater finished the season with a 64.4 percent completion percentage, the third-best mark in NFL history for a rookie. QB remains the most important position in football, and the Vikings finally have their franchise guy.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

1. Aaron Donald, Rams
2. Khalil Mack, Raiders
3. (Tie) CJ Mosely, Ravens/Anthony Barr, Vikings

Donald wasn’t just one of the best rookies, he was one of the best defensive lineman, period. Mack lived up to his pre-draft hype as a dynamic playmaker, consistently pressuring the passer and shutting down the run game. Mosely finished seventh in the NFL in tackles with 133, and Barr showed that he can be a true difference-maker for the Vikings.

Comeback Player of the Year

1. Rolando McClain, Cowboys
2. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
3. (Tie) Rob Gronkowski, Patriots/Von Miller, Broncos/Julio Jones, Falcons

It once appeared that McClain was a wasted talent who simply didn’t care enough to succeed, but he rebounded strongly as a key component of the Cowboy’s surprisingly solid defense.

After missing the entire 2013 season, Maclin returned to post an 85-1,318-10 line while aptly replacing DeSean Jackson in Chip Kelly’s offense. Gronk, Miller and Jones also returned to Pro Bowl form this season after missing extended time last year.

Coach of the Year

1. Bruce Arians, Cardinals
2. Bill Belichick, Patriots
3. Bill O’Brien, Texans

Arians led the Cardinals to 9-1 start and 11-5 overall, holding the team together despite suffering a lengthy list of key injuries. This team finished the year on its fourth-string QB for crying out loud!

Executive of the Year

1. Steve Keim, Cardinals
2. Bill Belichick, Patriots
3. Jerry Jones, Cowboys

Arians held the team together amid adversity, but Keim deserves a lot of credit for assembling such a talented roster. The Cards aren’t as flashy as some other teams, but their hot start was no fluke.

Belichick is the best coach of our generation and he deserves EOY consideration after bringing in Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to completely transform the Pats D. While the Cowboys had a fantastic season, I’m not as high on Jones for his award as some others — after all, isn’t he the guy who reportedly wanted to draft Johnny Manziel?

Douchebag of the Year

1. Ray Rice, unemployed
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
3. Roger Goodell, NFL

Rice knocked out his girlfriend, Peterson beat his son and Goodell worried more about money and public opinion than he did about doing the right thing. Pathetic all the way around.

Offensive Douchebag

1. Dominic Raiola, Lions
2. Johnny Manziel, Browns
3. Robert Griffin III, Redskins

Raiola took a page out of teammate Ndamukong Suh’s book with a blatantly dirty stomp on the ankle of the Bears’ Ego Ferguson. Manziel was more concerned with partying than football, and it showed with his poor play. And RG3 makes the list for throwing his teammates under the bus with his “it takes 11 men” remark after a game in which he struggled against a dreadful Tampa defense.

Defensive Douchebag

1. Vontae Burfict, Bengals
2. Alec Ogletree, Rams
3. Ndamukong Suh, Lions

Like Raiola, Burfict tops this list for intentionally trying to injury an opponent. Burfict got busted for twisting the ankles of both Cam Newton and Greg Olsen. Football is a tough enough game without crap like that. Ogletree’s late hit and subsequent shove of the Giants’ Odell Beckham in Week 16 was classless. And, while Suh didn’t “stomp” on Aaron Rodgers’ leg in the season finale, I still have a really hard time giving the league’s dirtiest play the benefit of the doubt.

Douchebag Coach of the Year

1. Jeff Fisher, Rams
2. Jim Harbaugh, 49ers
3. Doug Marrone, Bills

Fisher tops this list for blaming the Giants for the sideline fight that Ogletree instigated. Fisher has a reputation for coaching chipping, undisciplined squads, and it’s worth noting that his defensive coordinator is Bountygate mastermind Gregg Williams.

Harbaugh was a great coach, but his tough-guy shtick was getting old. As for Marrone… Yes, I know the NFL is a business. But he grabbed the money and left his team (and assistant coaches) hanging. Can’t wait to hear his “no I in team” speeches with his new team next year.

Play of the Year

1. Odell Beckham’s catch
2. Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre’s TD record
3. Antonio Brown dropkicks Browns punter

There’s Beckham’s catch, then everything else. Absolutely jaw dropping. One of the best catches ever made.

Wasted Draft pick of the year

1. Johnny Manziel, Browns
2. Jadeveon Clowney, Texans
3. Justin Gilbert, Browns

“Johnny Football” can officially be renamed “Johnny Jackass.” Just ask him. He needs to get his head in the game quickly or he won’t last long in this league. And the worst part? The Browns took him over Bridgewater. Ouch.

Clowney could still be a stud, but it was a lost pick for 2014. If he plays to his potential, he’ll be fun to watch with Watt. And, while it may seem like I’m piling on the Browns here, Gilbert was another guy who failed to adjust to the NFL game, both on and off the field.

Steal of the Draft

1. Chris Borland, LB, 49ers
2. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings
3. Corey Linsley, C, Packers

Borland stepped in for an injured Patrick Willis in Week 7 and quickly started generating some Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz. The third-round pick out of Wisconsin finished with a team-high 128 tackles, helping hold the 49ers defense together as one of the league’s top units.

Bridgewater once was considered the likely No. 1 overall pick, but he fell to the last pick of the first round after a disappointing pro day. The Vikings are thrilled he did because they now have their franchise QB of the future–and he’s locked for cheap through 2018.

Linsley graded out as one of the league’s top centers this season, helping to plow open some huge running lanes for Eddie Lacy. The fifth-round steal was worthy of Pro Bowl consideration.

Fantasy Player of the year

1. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
2. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
3. Odell Beckham, Giants

To me, RB is still to fantasy what QBs are to the NFL, so that’s where I’m looking first. Murray was an absolute beast, riding a heavy workload to top RB status, and Bell ended the year right on his heels. Beckham, meanwhile, quickly went from the waiver wire to single-handedly carrying teams to championships with his monster production down the stretch.

Incompetent Survivor Picker of the Year

1. (Tie) John/Andy/Tony, Zoneblitz.com

What can I say? It’s pretty pathetic that we were all eliminated from the consolation bracket before Maggio lost in the original game.

Hottest Coaching seat of 2015

1. Jay Gruden, Redskins
2. Joe Philbin, Dolphins
3. (Tie) Tom Coughlin, Giants/Gus Bradley, Jaguars

Gruden said he wanted to evaluate whether Colt McCoy can be the Skins’ franchise QB. That alone is grounds for dismissal.

Philbin’s underwhelming tenure in Miami was saved — for now — by new OC Bill Lazor, who brought some of Chip Kelly’s offense to South Beach. Still, the Dolphins unraveled down the stretch and Philbin often looked outmatched.

Coughlin’s had a great run in New York, including two Super Bowl wins, but the Giants have now posted back-to-back losing seasons. Jacksonville, meanwhile, fired OC Jedd Fisch; Bradley could be next if the Jags don’t turn things around after going 7-25 in his first two seasons.