Who would win the NFL's 2011 MVP award wasn't really much of a question.
Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, though, could likely still trigger some debate.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers accepted the league's MVP award - his first - from the NFL's only four-time recipient, Colts QB Peyton Manning, who presented the award to Rodgers at Murat Theater in Indianapolis.
Rodgers took home 48 of 50 first place votes, with Saints QB Drew Brees picking up the other two. Rodgers, who sat in Green Bay's Week 17 game against Detroit, threw for 4,643 yards with 46 touchdowns to just six interceptions, a passer rating of 122.5, which is a new NFL record.
Brees did take Offensive Player of the Year, and while it may seem strange the two would split the award, value does not necessarily equal most productive. Rodgers played very well all year, but when he wasn't at the top of his game (against Kansas City and Tampa Bay, most notably), his team struggled. Brees broke NFL records in passing yards (5,476) and completion percentage (71.2), racking up an impressive 110 passer rating. He threw 46 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.
It'd be tough to argue the league has ever seen two quarterbacks have the kinds of seasons Rodgers and Brees did, and when you add in Patriots QB Tom Brady (5,235 yards, 39 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 105.6), Detroit's Matthew Stafford (5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns) and Giants QB Eli Manning (4,966 yards, 29 touchdowns), the league saw probably the most statistically impressive year its had from its quarterback position.
Stafford was named Comeback Player of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year, however, may have been a bit tighter of a competition. Suggs is certainly a worthy candidate, but much like the quarterbacks, multiple defensive linemen had huge seasons. Suggs had 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles, while Vikings DE Jared Allen had 22 sacks - one half sack shy of Michael Strahan's single-season record, which he earned controversially when then-Packers QB Brett Favre dropped at Strahan's feet in the last game of the 2001 season.
San Francisco DE Justin Smith was the stalwart on one of the league's best defenses, and while he may not have had the stats other candidates had (7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles), the All-Pro led a dominant defensive unit that nearly advanced to the Super Bowl despite a mediocre offense.
QB Cam Newton and OLB Von Miller won the Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. Newton didn't have much of a rival, but Miller (11.5 sacks) beat out San Francisco's Aldon Smith (14 sacks) in what had to have been a very tight vote. The edge probably went to Miller due to the fact he was a three-down player and had more of an impact on a surprisingly tough Denver defense than Smith did. Both are outstanding players with bright futures.
Ravens C Matt Birk was given the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Most notably, Birk is known for establishing the "Ready, Set, Read" program, which, through his HIKE Foundation, helps children learn to read.