NFL's best and all the rest

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Right from the start, right from the time the New York Jets said the New England Patriots had a guy videotaping their defensive signals in September, the Patriots have been the story of this season.And Saturday night, they can put the punctuation of punctuations on such things if they become the first team in league history to finish a regular season 16-0 with a win against the New York Giants. That would also give them the inside track to becoming the first team to finish 19-0 after a Super Bowl win.So, when the trophies, kudos and honors get handed out during the next few weeks, the Patriots will have plenty of names on plenty of lists.Here's one man's ballot, as the regular season draws to a close:-- OFFENSIVE ROOKIEMake a little history in your first lap around the NFL and you've done something. And Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFC in rushing at 1,305 yards with a game to play against the Broncos, has done just that. His 296 yards Nov. 4 against the Chargers is now the league's single-game rushing record.It was also the second time this season he topped the 200-yard mark and 46 more yards than any rookie had ever rushed for in a game in NFL history.Peterson was also named a Pro Bowl starter.-- DEFENSIVE ROOKIEIn a draft that was more than a little light on quality inside-linebacker prospects, the 49ers Patrick Willis' name was easily at the top.And the Butkus Award winner out of Ole Miss has made an almost seamless move to the NFL, starting at inside linebacker in the 49ers' 3-4 defense and leading the team in tackles as a rookie.While tackles are not an official league statistic, Willis is also considered to be leading the league with 162.A big-time finisher who had five 15-tackle games in his college career, Willis was named to the Pro Bowl, the only rookie named to the NFC defense.-- DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARThis is a difficult call.The Titans' Albert Haynesworth has, at his best, been the most dominant defensive player in the league. But he also missed three games down the stretch with a hamstring injury and was limited in another.And if the Titans don't win in Indianapolis on Sunday, they will not be a playoff team.The Chargers' Antonio Cromartie, with a league-leading 10 interceptions, including three against Peyton Manning is also a contender, but he has started just six games.So with the idea being to reward those who played the whole way for a team heading to the postseason, the pick here is New England's do-it-all linebacker, Mike Vrabel, who just earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 11 seasons.Vrabel is fourth in the AFC in sacks with 11-1/2, has forced five fumbles and can line up almost anywhere on the field. He also has two touchdown catches, the ninth and 10th of his career, showing his versatility.* OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARIn less time than it took to type this sentence . . . Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. A three-time Super Bowl winner who has never been the league's MVP will see that streak end this year when he gets that trophy, too.-- COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEARThe Patriots' Randy Moss, who played through plenty of injuries last season and has bounced back with 21 receiving touchdowns in this one, would be a likely candidate, but there are many in the league -- and it's hard to argue with them -- who believe much of his "fall" was self-induced because he was not happy in Oakland.So the pick is Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who followed a motorcycle accident in 2006 with a 23-interception Super Bowl hangover when he was sacked 46 times and finished with a pedestrian passer rating of 75.4.This year, Roethlisberger is second in the league in passer rating (104.1), third in touchdown passes (32) and has the Steelers back in the postseason as AFC North champs.-- MVPBest player on the winningest team with a slew of offensive records in tow . . . its Brady.-- COACH OF THE YEARToughest decision of all, especially if the Patriots run the table.But Bill Belichick's team, and he's in charge of all things Patriots, was caught cheating and was sanctioned by the league. That is no small item. Seems that's worse than losing a game or two.Green Bay's Mike McCarthy and Dallas' Wade Phillips, given what they have done as compared with the expectations they came in with, also are candidates.But the check mark goes next to Indianapolis' Tony Dungy. He has followed a Super Bowl win with a 13-2 mark, seen his left tackle (Tarik Glenn) unexpectedly retire before training camp, has been without his all-time receiver in Marvin Harrison for much of the year, without his best defensive lineman in Dwight Freeney since early November, and his best run stuffer (Anthony McFarland) and middle linebacker (Rob Morris) also are on injured reserve.Yet the Colts defense is still ranked No. 3 in yards allowed per game -- No. 1 against the pass -- and the offense is No. 3.To do all that after a championship with 10 players, including three defensive starters, on injured reserve is remarkable.(Contact Jeff Legwold at legwoldj@RockyMountain News.com.)(Jeff Legwold writes for the Rocky Mountain News at www.rockymountainnews.com.)