And the Winner Is…

Award shows for some reason or another are popular enough that the networks put them on TV and expect people to watch. Even the sports world has gotten in on the act with award shows and programs. The most popular are the ESPYs, which, of course, are sponsored by ESPN.

Given that it is the holiday season (pick your favorite holiday) and that the NFL regular season is quickly drawing to a close with playoffs just around the corner, now is the time to present the First Annual SANTY Awards.

Each winner will be mailed his or her award, which is a 10-inch replica of Billy Bob Thornton as he appears in the movie "Bad Santa."

The Man Who Has Everything Category

Peyton Manning is having a huge year and just set a new record for TD passes, previously held by Dan Marino with 48. In addition to his talent, Manning has proven he is a student of the game, pouring over Polaroid's of the opposing defenses even during a blowout.

In a show of class against the Baltimore Ravens, the Colts found themselves on the Ravens' four-yard line with only seconds to go. Manning, true to the sportsman he is, kneeled down rather than look to pad his record pursuit when the game was already essentially over.

Manning also shows his leadership when needed. When kicker Mike Vanderjagt criticized his coach and questioned his team's ability to perform under pressure, Manning slammed his teammate for "running his mouth" after he got "liquored up" and that "if he is a teammate" next year, he would address the situation.

The result was Vanderjagt shut his mouth, never missed a kick the next season, and the Colts won their first two playoff games with Manning as QB, falling short to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Now, Manning did not win a national championship at Tennessee (the Vols won the championship the year after Manning left for the NFL with Tee Martin at QB), he has not won a Super Bowl, and has yet to marry some supermodel, so maybe he doesn't really have everything.

However, when you sign a $98 million contract with a $35 million signing bonus, you can probably buy what you don't have yet.

The Last-Minute Shopper Category

The Buffalo Bills began the season 0-4 and the fans and media were screaming for QB Drew Bledsoe's head on a platter.

But head coach Mike Mularkey stuck to his game plan and decided to make Willis McGahee his starting RB. The Bills responded by going 8-2 over their last 10 games going into San Francisco who only the Arizona Cardinals lose to.

The Bills meet a tough Pittsburgh Steeler team the last game of the year and face the very real possibility of not making the playoffs even if they can get to 10-6.

Given that three of the Bills' four losses to start the season were by a combined eight points, Bills fans may very well be left with visions of next year dancing through their heads and thoughts of what could have been.

Who's Been Naughty or Nice Category

Without question, Jacksonville Jaguar Safety Donovan Darius tops the naughty list with his hellacious clothesline hit on Green Bay Packer WR Robert Ferguson.

Ferguson had an awful scare after the hit where he certainly lost consciousness and was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. Darius was fined $75,000 and probably should have been suspended for the inexcusable action.

Ex-Miami Dolphin RB Ricky Williams has also been naughty this year. He bolted from his team at the 11th hour leaving them high and dry for a RB and an offense. Ricky has also contested the apparently unreasonable assertion by the Dolphins that he pay the team back the bonus money he received in exchange for him playing out his contract.

Ricky was so naughty this year that he would have also received the Lump of Coal Award except that he would have only used it to fire up his bong to smoke some more naughty weed and the SANTY's do not condone drug use.

Green Bay Packer QB Brett Favre heads up the nice list. In order to show support for his wife who began treatment for breast cancer and was starting to lose her hair, Favre shaved his head.

Favre is one of the most talented QBs around and has endured a significant amount of personal tragedy over the last few years. Who could forget his super-human performance on the field shortly after his beloved father passed away?

In addition, Favre's brother-in-law died and now his wife is battling cancer. The man is a shining example of how to overcome your own circumstances and show class and dignity.

Favre will be sorely missed when he retires and begins his five-year wait before certain enshrinement in Canton.

Next on the nice list is almost every team in the NFC except for the Philadelphia Eagles.

You see, the holiday season is a time for giving and it seems like every NFC team that doesn't play in the state of Pennsylvania is giving every other team a chance at making the playoffs instead of keeping the opportunity for themselves.

In a rare display of benevolence, a team that loses more games than it wins may be able to qualify for the playoffs and the opportunity to lose to the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The NFC West is especially in the giving mood where every week the teams in this division keep giving games away time and time again. My cup runneth over.

The Ho-Ho-Ho Category

Nicollette Sheridan is the towels-down winner for her appearance in the ill-conceived, poorly thought-out opening to Monday Night Football with Terrell Owens. Enough said.

There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays Category

If it is December, it is time for the annual tanking of the season that is the Minnesota Vikings holiday ritual.

Once again, with the Vikings seemingly running away with the NFC North Division, losing five of seven games right in the middle of the season brought them back to the Pack(ers).

When things get tough, leaders show what they are made of. So, when your team is on a slide and you have your star receiver throw an option pass that results in an interception in the endzone to kill your scoring drive and lead to a defeat, what does head coach Mike Tice do?

He announces to the media that he wouldn't mind throwing his name into the Washington State coaching gig.

Tice spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks during his playing career and apparently now is homesick and looking for a return to the West Coast.

If Tice's remarks are any indication of the level that his mind is into his current job, owner Red McCombs may give Tice lots of time to job search after this season. (Note to Tice, Washington State has filled the job.)

Better Watch Out, Better Not Pout Category

Eli Manning didn't want to go to the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers weren't prepared to make a commitment to winning he said.

Last check of the standings (after Week 15) showed the Chargers on an eight-game win streak and the New York Giants on a seven-game losing skid.

Sure, Manning is playing while fellow first-round pick Philip Rivers sits on the bench in San Diego, but who is showing a commitment to winning now?

The Perfect Gift Category

As noted above, Eli Manning is on a big losing streak and Philip Rivers has yet to start. The Giants paid big for Manning and will continue to pay in the next draft.

The Chargers may have a big QB controversy brewing or at least a lot of money tied up with two QBs as Drew Brees plays well enough to keep Rivers on the bench for now.

The early winner of the QB draft sweepstakes has to be the Pittsburgh Steelers. They gave up nothing and had Ben Roethlisberger fall to them in the draft.

When starter QB Tommy Maddox went down with an injury in Week 2, the Steelers put Big Ben in the lineup and all he has done is win 12 games in a row after Week 15. The Steelers are in the driver's seat to have home field advantage through the AFC playoffs and look to have their starting QB for the next 10 years.

Is there a finer Christmas gift for an NFL team?

Blue Christmas Category

There were several moves during the offseason this year. However, no player made a bigger impact for his new team than WR Terrell Owens with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Owens scored more touchdowns on his own than all Eagle wide receivers last year.

The Eagles are the class of the NFC and seemed all but certain to reach the Super Bowl after losing three NFC Championship Games in a row.

However, in the sprain heard round the City of Brotherly Love, Owens' ankle was injured and will now have screws inserted during surgery. The early prognosis is that he may be back for the Super Bowl, but that is a best-case scenario.

It really doesn't matter if Owens is doing cartwheels and posing in the middle of the star in Dallas. Without Owens, the Eagles are ordinary and won't be in Jacksonville for the Super Bowl unless they buy tickets like everyone else.

Don't think so? Here is an important number. Zero. That is how many passes that QB Donovan McNabb completed to a wide receiver in the second half after the Owens injury.

The good news for the Eagles is that they won't have to worry about losing a fourth NFC Championship Game in a row. They won't be there.

So concludes the First SANTY Awards.

As with other award programs, this one has gone on too long and no one will remember who won what once the last award has been given out.

What is also true is that there will be lots of competition next year. See you there.