What a difference a season can make.

It seems like years ago that Daune Culpepper was an MVP candidate, the Eagles were a contender, the Lions were a playoff team, Cedric Benson was a great draft pick, and any team but the Colts was favored to win the Super Bowl.

Yet, it was only in August that those sentiments were being harped.  And now, here in the final week of December and nearing the end of the 2005 regular season, it's time to set the record straight and hand out some hardware.

Here are your 2005 NFL award winners.

Most Valuable Player:  Tiki Barber, RB, N.Y. Giants

This is the most difficult MVP to call in years, but in the end the most compelling nod has to go to New York's Barber, who has had the best season of his career and has finally proven his doubters wrong en route to solidifying his position as an elite tailback.  Eli Manning initially got a great deal of the pub for the Giants' success this season, but Barber eventually took center stage, rushing for over 100 yards in five consecutive games leading into this week, including a pair of 200 yard performances, against Washington (206 yards on 24 carries) and Kansas City (220 yards on 29 carries), respectively.  As Manning's inexperience has shown down the stretch this season, Barber has picked up the slack, and with the Giants on the verge of clinching the NFC East, he appears the most logical MVP selection.

2.  Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle;  3.  Tom Brady, QB, New England

Offensive Player of the Year:  Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle

Often, the man who gets left out on the MVP ends up with this award, and the Seahawks RB is no exception.  While Alexander has statistically had a better season than Tiki Barber -- no to mention that Alexander is on the verge of breaking Priest Holmes' single season touchdown record -- his impact on Seattle's great season hasn't been as strong as Barber's impact with the Giants has.  However, there's no denying that Alexander is the engine that has Seattle's offense running like a well oiled machine, and who could get the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in team history.

2.  Tiki Barber, RB, N.Y. Giants;  3.  Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati

Defensive Player of the Year:  Nathan Vasher, CB, Chicago

When they nickname you "The Interceptor," you know you're having a great season.  Vasher's eight interceptions are tops in the NFL, and his picks have often come at the most convenient of times for the league's best defense.  No one could have imagined the shutdown corner and turnover machine that Vasher, who has some forced fumbles and fumble recoveries as well, would ultimately become.

2.  Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis;  3.  Osi Umenyiora, DE, N.Y. Giants

Offensive Rookie of the Year:  Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay

Perhaps the biggest surprise this season was that this award did not have a whole lot of compelling competition for it.  Williams wins it almost by default, thanks largely in part to the outstanding first several weeks of the season he had.  After falling off a bit, Cadillac is back on track and trying to lead the Bucs to the postseason.  He has been by far the most impressive of the great crop of RB selected in this year's draft.

2.  Samkon Gado, RB, Green Bay;  3.  Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami

Defensive Rookie of the Year:  Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego

All of the Lofa Tatupu supporters out there may be disappointed, but while Lofa has not only had a great season but has an awesome name as well, it's Merriman who gets the DROY nod in the end.  After an initially unimpressive start, in which he didn't play in the season opener against Dallas and had little if any impact in the ensuing games, the rookie LB has finished strong, registering six sacks over his previous three games, and is on his way to the Pro Bowl.  The fact that the offenses in the AFC West have a tad bit of an advantage over those in the NFC West also leads one to make such a call.

2.  Lofa Tatupu, LB, Seattle;  3.  DeMarcus Ware, LB/DE, Dallas

Most Improved Player of the Year:  Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati

You may not know it, but Carson Palmer has probably been the best quarterback in the NFL this season for the AFC North Champion Bengals (Did I just say that?  What a time to be alive).  Try these numbers on for size:  with two games left to go, has thrown for 3,516 yards, 30 TDs, 10 INTs, and has an outstanding completion percentage of just under 68%.  Furthermore, while I invest little validity into the statistic, he also had an excellent quarterback rating of 102.6.  I think it's safe to say the Bengals finally got it right at quarterback.

2.  Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City;  3.  Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants

Comeback Player of the Year:  Steve Smith, WR, Carolina

The fact that Tedy Bruschi returned to the field after a stroke is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the sports, but in terms of overall football performance this award just has to go to Steve Smith.  After breaking his leg in week one last year and following up his breakout season with an astonishing six catches, Smith has not only returned to form, but has actually returned as arguably the best WR in the NFL.  With two games left on the plate, Smith as caught 93 passes for 1,414 yards and 11 TDs, all of them career highs.  Furthermore, Smith was elected this past week to his second Pro Bowl, his first as a WR (he was previously elected as a kick returner).  The scariest thing of all is that this guy is only 26, and hasn't even begun to realize his potential.

2.  Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England;  3.  Brad Johnson, QB, Minnesota

Coach of the Year:  Tony Dungy, Indianapolis

I usually subscribe to the theory that this award shouldn't be given to the coach with the best team, but should be given to someone who won a lot more with a lot less.  However, when a team has been as dominant as the Colts have been this season, it's hard to justify giving the award to anyone else.  As I look back on these awards, I myself am astonished that Dwight Freeney is the only name on any list who plays for the Colts;  no Manning, no Edge, no Harrison.  They've all had huge seasons, but I suppose their absence is proof that this is a truly fantastic team, and that their collective efforts overshadow any of their individual achievements.  Whether they win the Super Bowl or not, they're the best team I've ever seen, and that's worthy of recognition.

2.  Lovie Smith, Chicago;  3.  Mike Tice, Minnesota