Don't do this to me, Dave.

I am one of the biggest Matthew Stafford slappies/apologists that you will find, but I cannot go with you on this.

Stafford has been good this year and very good at times. His ability to stay on the field despite taking some monster hits this season is a welcome site as he has shown that he can take a major NFL hit without succumbing to his regularly-scheduled injury.

I would go so far as to say that he is the best of the current crop of young NFL quarterbacks.

Matt Ryan - Personal preference here. Ryan has been more than solid since coming into the league, but with the amount of weapons he has around him, I can't say that he is a better player than Stafford. The nods he would have (and rightfully so) over Stafford are his durability and wins. That being said, for argument's sake, I will take Stafford.

Joe Flacco - Again, he has Stafford in the win department, but I don't think anyone will confuse him with anything but a painfully average quarterback. Too ineffective too often to be put in the same sentence as Stafford.

Josh Freeman - Very disappointing season for Freeman. While I didn't necessarily buy the Bucs' 10-6 record last season, I don't think anyone could have predicted them being 4-10 through 14 games. 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions aren't going to get it done. I believe he will bounce back and be an effective NFL quarterback, but I don't see him eclipsing 30 touchdowns and 4,000 yards anytime soon.

Sam Bradford - Big step back this season. He has either been banged up or sporting a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face for most of the season. I personally think the kid will bounce back with some time to heal and an off-season to become more acclimated with mid-season acquisition Brandon Lloyd, but until then, the jury is out.

Mark Sanchez - No. I don't care if he's having his best season (which still pales in comparison to Stafford's). The answer is no.

Tim Tebow - Stop it.

Excluding rookie quarterbacks (Cam Newton...scary good), Stafford has a foothold near the top of this young group.

But NFL MVP? Meh...

Stats are important in this discussion, but not as important as asking one simple question: What would this team do without him?

The problem is that we have already seen what this team can do without him. Last season, the Lions finished 6-10 with Shaun Hill at the helm for most of the season. That is not a record to hang your hat on, but ask fans in Indy how six wins would feel right about now.

Actually...scratch that. Don't ask them. You're not getting Andrew Luck with six wins...

Yes, the Lions seem like a strong bet to reach 10 wins this season, which is an incredible feat for the perennial cellar-dwellers. This four-game swing is impressive, but his absence would not be as significant as the absence of one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks (which he is not...yet).

Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are in the same class as the ultimate point-prover for this argument: Peyton Manning.

These guys are more than quarterbacks. They change plays in the huddle more times than Willie Beamen in Any Given Sunday. They are the offensive coordinators of their team and good ones at that.

It is because of these players that teams can win with porous defenses and below-average running games. They defy all previous football logic and the game has changed because of it.

Statistically, it's hard to give him the nod when he is not leading his conference in any category and his team is 9-5 without a playoff spot locked up. His stats are solid and Pro Bowl-worthy, but not MVP-worthy.

Besides...when you have two guys chasing Marino's yardage record and another chasing Manning's QB rating record, it's not your year to win this award.

Five players I feel are more deserving of the MVP:

Aaron Rodgers - He was not spectacular one time this season...and they lost to the Chiefs.
Drew Brees - He would also get my vote as "Coolest guy in NFL."
Tom Brady - He wins DESPITE that block of Swiss cheese the Pats call a defense.
Marshawn Lynch - Try to argue with me if they somehow win out and sneak into the playoffs. Skittles are not good for your teeth...unless you have a grill. Then you're OK. BEAST MODE!
Ray Rice - The only guy resembling an offensive player on the entire Baltimore roster. 1,700+ yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns is hard to argue with.

There is no question that Stafford's health and play this season have been important components of Detroit's success this season, but until he enters the realm of Brees-Rodgers-Brady-Manning, he is simply fighting for a spot in the next tier.

Simply put, he's not there yet. As valuable as he is to the Lions, the players mentioned are more valuable to theirs.

Overall, while I don't feel he is worthy of MVP consideration, a season ending with a Pro Bowl bid (he should get in as the 3rd NFC QB over Eli), a playoff appearance and the best stats of any Lions' quarterback in history should be reason enough for Detroit fans to be happy.