Drew Brees is on pace to have a historic season statistically. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

Not only has parity infiltrated the NFL standings, but it has done the same to the NFL’s MVP race.

We’re now at the midway point of the season and there are some legitimate MVP candidates, but nobody that is running away with the award the way Tom Brady did last season or LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, Shaun Alexander in 2005 or Peyton Manning in 2004.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees might be the front runner right now; he is on pace to throw for an NFL single-season record 5,136 yards, which would eclipse the 5,084 that Dan Marino threw for during his record-breaking season in 1984. But Brees’ Saints are in last place in their division (tied with the Falcons at 4-3). Tough to give MVP to a player on a last-place team.

Redskins running back Clinton Portis has run for over 250 yards more than any back in the league while leading Washington to a 6-2 record.

Unsuspecting quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner in Arizona and Kyle Orton in Chicago might even be in the conversation before this season is through.

And an argument even could be made that the NFL mid-season MVP is Kerry Collins, who never even plays if Vince Young doesn’t get hurt.

But that is how this season has gone. Parity has taken over everything from the sprint to the Super Bowl to the run for the NFL MVP.

Posted in: Adam Schefter  | comments  |