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These Guys Are Making The Grade

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With the NFL's 89th season at the halfway mark, it is time to dispense the midyear grades.

MVP: A tough call between Saints QB Drew Brees and RB Clinton Portis of the Redskins, whose 944 rushing yards are 260 more than runner-up Adrian Peterson. The choice is Portis, who has eased the burden on young QB Jason Campbell by reeling off five consecutive 100-yard games for a surprising 6-2 club.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER: The Saints are only 4-4, but don't you dare blame Brees, who directs the league's No. 1 attack. Although New Orleans doesn't run effectively, Brees averages a healthy 8.4 yards per pass attempt and tops the NFL in completions of 20 yards or more (34) and 40 yards or more (11).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Tennessee's punishing defense is keyed by disruptive DT Albert Haynesworth, who requires constant double-teaming. Haynesworth's pressure up the middle has played a critical role as the Titans have posted an AFC-high 12 interceptions in their 7-0 start.

COACH: Jeff Fisher is the league's most tenured coach, and his unbeaten Titans have already opened up a four-game lead atop the AFC South. Most importantly, Tennessee has been rebuilt in Fisher's image - tough, aggressive and driven to succeed.

ASSISTANT COACH: The Giants feel blessed with every day they can hold onto defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo before some smart team hires him as head coach. Michael Strahan is retired, and fellow DE Osi Umenyiora is on the sidelines, yet the defending champs still lead the NFC in total defense behind a fierce pass rush.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Falcons QB Matt Ryan gets the slight nod over speedy Titans RB Chris Johnson. The third overall pick in the draft has kept Atlanta competitive in the rugged NFC South. Ryan's laser-beam strike to Michael Jenkins that set up a winning field goal against Chicago might be the throw of the year.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Tampa Bay's Aqib Talib has star quality, but Kansas City's Brandon Flowers is even more impressive at the hot corner. There's a reason why Bucs coach Jon Gruden compares the second-rounder out of Virginia Tech to a young Ronde Barber.

FREE-AGENT PICKUP: Atlanta couldn't have asked for more out of Michael Turner, the league's No. 3 rusher with 655 yards. The small but powerful ex-Charger is the biggest reason the Falcons boast the league's third-ranked ground game.

UNDER THE RADAR: If WR Andre Johnson played in New York instead of Houston, he'd have an expressway named after him. The former University of Miami standout tops the NFL in catches (56) and receiving yards (772), despite the lack of playmakers around him.

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