The NFL's early Season Awards

Welcome to my 2007 NFL 4/17ths of the Season Awards.

Let's not waste any space and just get down to it, but keep in mind that these were doled out before yesterday's Week 5 results.

MVP

Patriots QB Tom Brady: His performance is almost unbelievable. He threw a season-high seven incomplete passes last week on MNF against the Bengals (25-for-32). He's 95-for-120 for 1,118 yards, 13 TDs with only 2 INTs. Runners-up: Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Packers QB Brett Favre. Defensive Player

Buccaneers LB Barrett Ruud: The third-year player out of Nebraska is the perfect catalyst for the Tampa-2 defense that has fizzled the past couple of years because of age. He's got 40 tackles (including 32 solos), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a pass deflection. The resurgence of the D, along with new QB Jeff Garcia, have the Bucs as a surprise favorite to win the NFC South. Runner-up: Seahawks LB Julian Peterson.

Coach

Steelers Mike Tomlin: Time will tell whether it's just that he's super smooth with everything he says or a true leader. The defensive-minded coach is winning with class and, in my book, is the real deal. Even in defeat, the first-year head coach showed class when asked if losing Pro Bowlers Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu and Casey Hampton to injuries affected the game. He replied: "We feel good about the 53 men on our team and the 45 that put on hats. All of them are capable of helping us win. The Arizona Cardinals outperformed us." Runner-up: Cowboys Wade Phillips.

Bobble Head Doll Award

(worst coach)

Chargers Norv Turner: Just like his days with the Dolphins when he'd get Ricky Williams 100 yards and a good lead in the first half only to lose the game by not giving Ricky the rock more in the second half, Turner gave the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson only six times in the second half of San Diego's 30-16 loss to Kansas City after LT ran for 116 yards in the first half and the Chargers led 16-6. Runner-up: Eagles Andy Reid with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg (a former Montana Grizzlies QB) ~ good idea giving Pro Bowl tackle Mike Runyan

tight end help against training camp-holdout Michael Strahan and leaving a first-time starting tackle alone against Osi Umenyiora, who responded with six sacks in one game.

The Anna Nicole Smith Award

(biggest beneficiary)

Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown: He's posting Tomlinson numbers under LT's former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

"Ey Ru-K"

(rookie)

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (not to be confused with the former Georgia Southern RB who is now a third-down back for the Cubs … er, I mean Bears): He leads the NFC in rushing while splitting carries in a crowded backfield. His only undoing will be the offensive play-calling. He carried the ball 12 times for 112 yards in the first half against Green Bay, then got the ball only twice after intermission. Runners-up: Texas WR Jacoby Jones (this kid from NCAA Division II Lane College is fighting an injury right now, but he's amazing), Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe, Bills RB Marshawn Lynch.

Heidi Game Award

(comeback player)

Patriots WR Randy Moss: Although Moss isn't the traditional pick for this award, which usually goes to a previously injured player, can you believe he had just 42 catches for 553 yards and three TDs last year for the Raiders? He's got 31 catches for 505 yards and seven TDs through four weeks this year! Way to go, former Oakland coach Art Shell. Runners-up: Raiders RB LaMont Jordan (Again, way to go Al Davis).

Breakout Players

Cowboys CB Anthony Henry, Browns WR Braylon Edwards, Texans QB Matt Schaub, Broncos WR Brandon Marshall, Colts RB Joseph Addai, Steelers WR Santonio Holmes, Colts TE Dallas Clark, GB TE Donald Lee.

Some side notes …

My epiphany: Why don't the Bears just stick Devin Hester 20 yards behind the center and hike it to him every down instead of losing games with their offense?

Throwback Jerseys: Love 'em or hate 'em, there's more to come. The Jets will honor their predecessors, the New York Titans, with navy-and-gold throwback uniforms Oct. 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles. On Nov. 5 the Steelers will wear the same throwbacks they did on Sept. 16. They replicate the team's look from the 1940s-60s.

Carl Hennell is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He can be reached by e-mail at chennell@dailyinterlake.com or at 758-4446.