Third annual All-Freak team

What a great day of football last Sunday as we finally had two exciting games to watch.
Peyton Manning showed why he's the MVP, putting up 30 points against the best defence in football, and the underrated Colts' defence displayed its speed by swarming to the ball on every play. The Jets were in the game throughout, but couldn't pull off the unthinkable like the other New York team did two years ago.
The Vikings-Saints' game had more drama than "Desperate House Wives," and it probably won't end there with the continuing Brett Favre retirement-watch saga. Minnesota dominated the game, but someone forgot to tell the Vikings this isn't dodge ball, but a game called football. It's about holding onto the rock.
The Freak blames the loss on Coach Homer Simpson, who showed his true colors by calling a timeout with 25 seconds left in the game and having too many guys in the huddle. That took the Vikes out of a game-winning field-goal attempt.
The rest is history as the old gun-slinger Favre tries to make a play and throws a terrible interception that Viking fans will see in their dreams for the rest of their lives. During the timeout, why didn't Homer emphasize to Favre on the designed rollout to the right that if the play isn't there either run for a couple of yards or throw it away?
With a two-week break before the Super Bowl and the NFL experimenting with the Pro Bowl this Sunday, it's a fitting time for the third annual All-Freak Football Team.
In order to be selected, you not only need skills, but the important intangibles such as toughness, leadership, charisma and guts. Here is this season's team:

Offence
Quarterback - Apologies to Peyton Manning, but Brett Favre represents everything the All-Freak Team is about, period.
Running back - The only offensive threat for the Rams, Steve Jackson, faced eight-man fronts all year, played hurt and still ran for over 1,400 yards. Tennessee's Chris Johnson was one of the most exciting players in the league, running for an amazing 2,006 yards.
Fullback - Eagles' Leonard Weaver can run, catch and block. Too bad he couldn't punt as well.
Wide receivers - Receivers will be known as the "Jackson Two." Eagles' Deshawn Jackson will stretch the field with his blazing speed while the big target over the middle is the Bolts' tough Vincent Jackson, who is also great in the red zone on the fade route.
Tight end - The Freak hates the Cowboys, but Jason Whitten is the best complete tight end in the game.

Offensive line
Centre - Young Jets' bruiser Nick Mangold will anchor the line for many years. He's one big reason why the Jets led the league in rushing.
Tackles - The physical and talented Joe Thomas from the Browns is only one of two players worth a nickel from this Cleveland team. Dolphins' sophomore Jake Long is already a dominant player. If buddy Bill Parcells loves him, he becomes an automatic starter.
Guards - Had to put one of the boys on the team in Chris Snee, who has never missed a game in his career and is the anchor on the Giants' line. The Saints Jahri Evans had a huge fumble recovery late in the NFC Championship game, and helped keep Drew Brees clean all year.

Defence
Defensive ends - Jarod Allen. Anyone who can rush the quarterback and looks like they are from an old western movie is on the team. Colts' Dwight Freeney has the nickname "The Freak," which helps and he can also get heat on the quarterback.
Defensive tackles - Jonathan Babineaux of the Falcons had a run-in with the law, but this won't keep him off the team. A rare specimen who can rush the passer (six sacks) and stop the run. Watching Babineaux live really impressed The Freak during his scouting mission in Atlanta. The Pats' Vince Wilfolk is one of the few surprising good defensive players left on this New England team.
Linebackers - Ravens' Ray Lewis might be old and a little slower, but he still brings it every game and leads by example. The Jets' young David Harris is a big reason New York had the league's top-rated D. Dallas' DeMarcus Ware, who can change a game in one play, can give a pass-rush presence from the backer position. Patrick Willis from the 49ers plays like his coach Mike Singletary - he's a tackling machine all over the field.
Corners - We welcome all receivers with open arms to the Jets' "Darrelle Revis Island," where the weather is sunny and warm and you have no chance of catching any balls. The Packs' Charles Woodson is like a good imported wine - he gets better with age.
Safeties - If you go across the middle to catch a pass against the Steelers, you better know where Ryan Clark is because he will sacrifice his body to take your head off. Cards' Adrian Wilson does everything asked of this position - play the run, cover and hit anything that moves.

Special teams
Returners - One word describes Minnesota's Percy Harvin - "dangerous." Two words describe Joshua Cribbs from the Browns - "more dangerous."
Kicker and punter - This team will not carry a kicker or punter, and will go for it on every fourth down. Kickers missed too many easy kicks that cost their teams many important wins. Punters pretend they want to make a tackle, but just really want to get to the safety of the sidelines. No room for these guys on the team.

Coach
For the first time The Freak will have an assistant coach in Rex Ryan, who's a little loose, colorful, crazy, arrogant and believes in what he preaches.
Assistant coaches pick (Finn, Charlie, Owen) - The Freak's kids are big fans and lobbied for Ravens' rookie Michael Oher after seeing the movie "Blind Side." The movie made him popular, but the rookie's solid play made him famous in the football world. Perseverance and toughness would be an understatement for what this guy went through in his childhood.

John Turner is a Summerside schoolteacher. His column appears every Saturday during the NFL season. Feel free to e-mail questions and comments to the footballfreak84@yahoo.ca.