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Pasch-ion Play: Freeney's Stats Tell the Story
12/18/2001 12:06:24 PM | Football
The stats are overwhelmingly in favor of Dwight Freeney, which is why I'm irked by the results. These awards have become popularity contests, and because Peppers was a two sport athlete (basketball), and ESPN's Mel Kiper listed him all season long as the expected top pick in the upcoming NFL draft, he received more votes than Freeney.
I have a Lombardi (best lineman) vote, and I picked Freeney to win. Sure, I see every game he plays, but I did my homework. I just listed the facts. Number of sacks, tackles for losses, forced fumbles, and comparative team records. Too many people in my profession who get these votes don't take them seriously enough. They get complacent and just pick the guy who everybody talks about. Members of the media are too busy every Saturday watching the game they are covering. People sitting at home in front of their DirecTV systems have a better idea about who played well and who didn't. Still, the statistics don't lie. If my fellow Lombardi voters went to NCAA.com and clicked on 2001 defensive statistics, they would have their story. The stats tell the tale of how Dwight Freeney outplayed Julius Peppers, and every other defensive lineman in 2001.
