You didn't think a little thing like New Year's Eve would keep me from posting today, did you? Anyway, before all the celebrations and what not get underway, I just wanted to draw up a quick post on Patriots rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo and his winning of the Defensive Rookie of the Year award today.

Hard to argue that Mayo receiving the honor is anything but deserved; facing tremendous odds both as the 10th overall pick this past year and the youthfull addition to the LB corps the Pats so desperately needed, he exceeded even the highest of expectations. Although he didn't record a single sack, Mayo led the team with 128 tackles (10th in the league), including 100 solos (tied for fifth overall). Mayo was a near-unanimous selection with only one dick-rider of the 50 writers and broadcasters not casting their vote for him. Who did that one jabroni vote for, you ask? The Bengals' Keith Rivers. As in the Keith Rivers the Pats decided not to draft over Mayo, and the Keith Rivers who appeared in less than half of all possible games this season (7). Guess not everyone takes the honor of having the vote as seriously as they should, as Evan Grant proved during the whole Pedroia MVP voting bullshit.

As any good Belichick product would in such a situation, Mayo said all the right things when asked about receiving the honor:

Yeah, winning the award was one of my goals coming to the season, one of my personal goals. But the team goals - those came first. We fell short and won 11 games. My main goal was to make it to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Now we have to look ahead to doing it next year, but it’s definitely an honor to get this award.