The NFL's honors aren't awarded until after the season, but here are some unofficial feats, frustrations and frivolities worth recognizing from the first half of the schedule:
I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again) Award -- According to STATS Inc., the New York Giants' Kurt Warner has been knocked down 56 times this season, the most of any quarterback. Cincinnati's Carson Palmer is second with 53 knockdowns, followed by Cleveland's Jeff Garcia with 48.
Don't Blame Me Award -- It's too early to say the hiring of Joe Gibbs was yet another Dan Snyder disaster, but Gibbs did make a wise move in hiring Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. The Redskins rank first in total defense under Williams, the Redskins' sixth defensive coordinator since 1999.
Gone With the Wind Award -- That's San Diego quarterback Drew Brees, who becomes a free agent after the season. The Chargers, who have rookie Philip Rivers waiting in the wings, could make Brees their franchise player, which would guarantee him a base salary of $9 million. If they don't work out a trade to Brees' liking, there's a good chance the Chargers will have to let him walk.
Don't Get Defensive Award -- Indianapolis Coach Tony Dungy is known for assembling good defenses. But not this season. The Colts have given up an average of 402.9 yards a game, 103.6 more than they were giving up at this time last season.
"Tony Dungy is a nice guy," Mike Ditka told ESPN radio, "but his defense is going to make him say his first curse word."
MAC Daddy Award -- Four starting quarterbacks played at schools currently in the Mid-American Conference: Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger (Miami of Ohio), the New York Jets' Chad Pennington (Marshall), Jacksonville's Byron Leftwich (Marshall), and Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper (Central Florida, new to the conference this year). Those MAC quarterbacks have a combined record of 22-8 this season, best in the league among quarterbacks from the same college conference.
Keeping Things in Perspective Award -- Hoping to capitalize on Big Ben mania, "Wheel of Fortune" recently invited Roethlisberger to make an appearance on the show. He politely declined. Said agent Leigh Steinberg, "I think the only letter we are focused on right now for him is W."
Ode to Billy Joe Award -- Goes to the winner of Sunday's game between the Saints and Chiefs, who
haven't met since 1997 when each team was quarterbacked by a Billy Joe. In that game, Kansas City's Billy Joe Tolliver beat New Orleans' Billy Joe Hobert, 25-13.
