Why Russell Wilson should be crowned 2012’s NFL Rookie of the Year:
Russell Wilson:
PASSING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | INT | FUM | QBR | RAT |
| 2012 | SEA | 16 | 252 | 393 | 64.1 | 3,118 | 7.93 | 26 | 67 | 10 | 3 | 69.6 | 100.0 |
RUSHING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FD | FUM | LST |
| 2012 | SEA | 16 | 94 | 489 | 5.2 | 25 | 4 | 30 | 2 | 1 |
RGIII:
PASSING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | INT | FUM | QBR | RAT |
| 2012 | WSH | 15 | 258 | 393 | 65.6 | 3,200 | 8.14 | 20 | 88 | 5 | 3 | 71.4 | 102.4 |
RUSHING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FD | FUM | LST |
| 2012 | WSH | 15 | 120 | 815 | 6.8 | 76 | 7 | 40 | 9 | 2 |
Andrew Luck:
PASSING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | INT | FUM | QBR | RAT |
| 2012 | IND | 16 | 339 | 627 | 54.1 | 4,374 | 6.98 | 23 | 70 | 18 | 9 | 65.0 | 76.5 |
RUSHING
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FD | FUM | LST |
| 2012 | IND | 16 | 62 | 255 | 4.1 | 19 | 5 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
Realistically, the race is between these three quarterbacks. Doug Martin‘s name will be thrown into the conversation with good reason, however each of these players took dismal teams and drove them into the playoffs. I’ll be up front and tell you that my vote is for Russell Wilson. A lot of people will hide behind the fact and take an easy-out in saying that Andrew Luck took a (2-14) 2011 Colts team to 9-5 and a 2012 Playoff birth. The same goes for RGIII and the (5-11) 2011 Redskins team, also catapulting his team into the 2012 Playoffs.
Wilson unlike other rookies such as: Luck, Weeden, Tannehill and RGIII, was not granted the ability to grow into the roll. Seattle was already looked at as a contender with a stout defense entering Pete Carroll‘s third NFL Season. Wilson was handed the job from Week 1, beating out an expensive addition in Matt Flynn. Victories in early games against Dallas, New England and Green Bay were the stamp of approval for not only a franchise quarterback, but also would have buried them in the standings had they not come out victorious.
LaDainian Tomlinson was quoted saying, “Russell Wilson is having one of those years that you have to recognize. If it wasn’t for RGIII, Russell Wilson would actually have played the best out of any rookie quarterback: completion percentage, passer rating, touchdown-to-interception ratio. What he has done in getting this team to this point is really remarkable. And so really and truly, at this time, I think Russell Wilson is your rookie of the year.”
Not only did Wilson lead the Seahawks to consecutive 50 point marks late in the season to secure a playoff birth, but with what WR’s? Sidney Rice and Golden Tate? Free Agent WR’s such as Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe and many others will be hot commodities this off-season for many teams with enemic offenses like Cleveland and Miami, but will they really look to go there over being a number one with a potential Super Bowl contender in Seattle.
Lastly, I always bring it down to “who beat who when it counted.” In the first round of the playoffs, Seattle defeated Washington 24-14. It will be noted that RGIII (injury) was replaced by Kirk Cousins, but this shouldn’t be a hinder to Russell Wilson. Wilson, a round three pick in lasty years draft, didn’t do anything extravagant to win his team the game, but was the field general his team needed. His composure and poise on the field is what should win him this award. His statistics and skill set should be complimentary, however Wilson was this season’s biggest “what-if” in terms of Seattle’s success. His last minute heroics shouldn’t be forgotten about in Atlanta as he led the Seahawks back from a 14-27 fourth quarter deficit to a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds remaining in the game. Without a last second, cold-blooded drive by Matt Ryan and an icing of the kicker timout by Pete Carroll, this decision would have been a slam dunk for voters as Wilson and the Seahawks would be playing in the NFC Championship Game.
All in all, the Seahawks have a bright future as they were the youngest team to win a playoff game in 21 years. If you actually watched the Seattle vs. Atlanta game, I’m sure that you not only recognize Wilson’s talent, but also agree with the fact that he deserves 2012’s Rookie of the Year Award.