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The MVP should be a player who is vital to his team's performance. Basically, if the MVP were hypothetically taken off of his team, then the team's record should go completely in the other direction. So here are the top-three MVP candidates going into this weekend.

K Mike Vanderjagt, Colts

The Colts would probably be a very good team even if Mike Vanderjagt was kicked off the team tomorrow. But, if he were not on the team back in January when he questioned Peyton Manning, coach Tony Dungy, and the whole team's toughness, the Colts would not be the Super Bowl contender that they are now.

It was imperative that someone wake this team up. Manning has posted great numbers every season that he has played football (four-straight 4,000-yard passing seasons), but in the back of his mind and everyone else's, was the fact that he has lost almost every big game that he has played in college and professionally.

It could not have been that hard to beat Florida while he was at Tennessee if Tee Martin did it en route to a national championship. Martin basically had the same personnel around him in that championship season that Manning had.

Of course, when you lose 41-0 in the playoffs, that makes you want to play better, as well. But the Colts have always lost in the playoffs and have never seen a turnaround like this one. The Colts of years past and Manning would not have been able to pull-off the incredible comeback win against the Bucs on Monday night.

Something must have these guys fired up, because I doubt Dungy's comments at halftime could have done it ("Umm ... yeah, guys ... you guys should play better ... if you want ... I'm kinda disappointed in you ... anyone seen my son? ... 'Nuff said."). The comeback maintained the momentum that the Colts had way back in training camp, which they apparently, for some reason, named "The Rally in the Valley."

Also, Vanderjagt has bounced back this year from a subpar season by his standards last year. He is 13/13 this year in field-goals, and two of those were game-winners.

QB Kordell Stewart, Bears

Not many people have contributed more to their team's current record (1-3) than Kordell. If he were not starting, the Bears may actually be playing .500 football instead of playing "we're lucky to get one win" football. Take him off of the team, and maybe they are still in the mix in the NFC Central. You can count on Kordell to get you seven or eight losses in a season single-handedly.

In Week 1 against the 49ers, he had a mind-boggling passer rating of 21.9%. He was 14-for-34 for 95 yards, with three INTs, and had a yardage-per-attempt of 2.79. Numbers like that give you no chance to win. That YPA is almost Rich Gannon-like. Despite his best efforts to lose against the Raiders in Week 4 (160 yards, 2 INTs, 54.2% passer rating), the Bears managed to get a win, but he still retains the second spot in MVP voting.

Kordell's one strength is playing on turf. In games on turf this season, he has a commendable 96.7% rating and has thrown 1 TD and no INTs. When he is on grass, though, he stays true to character and is tough to lose against (2 TDs, 7 INTs, 51% completion percentage). Receivers Az Hakim, Drew Bennett, and Rod Smith and running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and LaBrandon Toefield all have passer ratings higher than Kordell -- he is 31st among starting quarterbacks.

Note: Notice that Kordell's position at the top is still "slash." With a guy who can lose to you in so many different ways, it is hard to categorize him in one position. He can lose to you with his legs, his arm, and his head.

RB Emmitt Smith, Cardinals

The Cardinals are 1-4 on the season, and they have Emmitt Smith to thank for that. Not only does he only have 192 yards and 1 TD, but he is also eating up valuable cap space. If the Cards did want to win, they could have used that money to get a decent back.

The defense is pretty pathetic in Arizona, but they look a lot worse since they are on the field so long in every game. Maybe if Smith could get a first-down every once in a while, they could ... ah, forget it, that's too much of an "if."

Smith is so bad that he can help his team lose even when he is out of the game. In Week 5, he had six rushes for -1 yards before leaving the game. Arizona did not even play very badly, but the Cowboys wanted the game more, because of what Smith had said about them in the media.

I thought the Cards brought Smith in because of his veteran leadership. What kind of a veteran leader calls his old team "trash" right before he is about to play them? A veteran should know not to give an opposing team (in this case, a young team looking for any kind of motivation) something to post up on the locker room wall.

So not only has Smith failed as a running back, but also in his other role as a leader. Plus, why did he "shush" the crowd after his score in St. Louis, when everyone knew the Cardinals were going to lose, and when he only rushed for 25 yards in the game? What a loser ... and that is why he is third in the MVP race and that is why his team sucks.

Look for Emmitt to drop down in the race in weeks to come, because he is out indefinitely. While he is out, the Cardinals may put a winning-streak together, especially if my boy Josh Scobey out of Kansas State gets some carries.

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