I went along with the Manning MVP coronation last year and voted for him. After all, he broke the NFL's single-season record for touchdown passes, that hallowed mark that had stood for all of 20 years. But guess what? When the playoffs rolled around, it was Brady and the Patriots over Manning and the Colts once again.

Another ring or his first MVP trophy? I know which one Brady would rather have. But by now he should have both.

It clearly works against Brady and his MVP hopes that New England is the ultimate team, with an organizational mentality of quashing any promotion of the individual at the expense of the greater good. Patriots headmaster Bill Belichick abhors putting one player ahead of the team, and he'll never lead the chorus in singing Brady's praises.

But here's one more indicator of Brady's impact in New England: Before Brady started a game for him, Belichick was 42-58 (.420) as an NFL head coach, with one playoff trip. Since Brady took over in early 2001, Belichick has gone 59-15 (.797) and has won three Super Bowls. That's a decent little upswing.

For all their inventive and adaptive ways, the Patriots know in their hearts that Brady is the one key cog who can't be replaced. With all due respect to Belichick's proven coaching acumen, Brady's simply the biggest reason New England has those three shiny trophies and a shot at a fourth.

Here's what one AFC East team official told me about the Patriots this preseason: "They have lost some talent, but don't forget they still have the quarterback. When the game's on the line, he makes all the throws. The guy's never lost a playoff game. That's unbelievable. If he ever got hurt, then we'd see how beatable they really are.''

What Brady did in leading the injury-plagued Patriots to a 23-20 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday -- with that 12-of-12 fourth-quarter performance -- only cemented his status as the player by which all others should be measured.

And Brady's fellow NFL players know he's the best quarterback in the game. Hines Ward said it on Sunday. So did Roethlisberger. As did Carolina safety Mike Minter the week before. So why do the MVP voters fail to see it?

Players know it's all about winning. That's where true value exists in the NFL. Nobody does more than Brady. So give all the stat freaks their offensive player of the year award to bestow. Just give Brady the MVP. Because he's the best. Anybody drawing any other conclusion is either Manning's agent or ought to be drug tested.

Brady for MVP. Let's do it now and avoid the rush.