Super Bowl "Best vs. Best": And now some (at least tangentially) game-related stuff...

• Patrick Mahomes could win the four biggest awards of the weekend starting tomorrow night.  Tomorrow night, he is not only up for the NFL MVP award, but also for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.  He already has won the $25,000 donation for social media votes of the Walter Payton Challenge.  And on top of the Lombardi on Sunday, he is the favorite for (and widely predicted to win) Super Bowl MVP.  What a way that would be to cement he's The Next Man?
• Both those awards are the two biggest awards active players can win in the NFL Honors presentation tomorrow night on NBC.
• Each of the 32 teams nominates a player for his public service to the community.
• Dion Dawkins is the Buffalo representative, before anyone asks.
• Dak Prescott is the nominee for Dallas.
• Zach Ertz, for Arizona.
• Jared Goff, for Detroit.
• Aaron Jones, for Green Bay.
• Adam Thielen, for Minnesota.
• Cam Heyward for Pittsburgh.
• Derrick Henry for the Titans.

As for the NFL Honors, and these are selected by the AP:

• The MVP nominees are Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and the only non-quarterback, Minnesota's Justin Jefferson.
• Defensive Player of the Year:  Nick Bosa, Chris Jones, Micah Parsons
• Offensive Player of the Year:  Mahomes, Jefferson, Hurts, and Tyreek Hill
• Offensive Rookie of the Year:  Brock Purdy, Kenneth Walker III, Garrett Wilson
• Defensive Rookie of the Year:  Sauce Gardner, Aidan Hutchinson, Tariq Woolen
• Comeback Player of the Year:  Saquon Barkley, Gino Smith, Christian McAffrey
• Assistant Coach of the Year:  Ben Johnson (Offensive Coord. DET), Shane Steichen (Offensive Coord. PHI), DeMeco Ryans (Defensive Coord. SF)
• Head Coach of the Year:  Bryan Daboll (NYG), Sean McDermott (BUF), Doug Pederson (JAX), Kyle Shanahan (SF), Nick Sirianni (PHI)

Predictions:  Mahomes wins two, not sure on the defensive awards.  Purdy wins Offensive Rookie unanimously.  McAffrey wins Comeback.  Ryans wins Assistant Coach.  Doug Pederson wins Coach of the Year.

• And also tomorrow night, the 2023 Hall of Fame class is revealed.  The NFL Hall of Fame has kept it well under wraps this year.

Hall of Fame Predictions:

• Devin Hester.  You usually do not get in the Hall on special teams.  Pretty much AT ALL.  That is, unless you're the best to ever do it.  Hester was.
• From there, there's about half of the 15 in the Modern Era Class who COULD, IMODO -- but I'm not sure there's a headliner in the bunch!  Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Torry Holt, Darrelle Revis, Zach Thomas, Darren Woodson, and there are several linemen on the ballot as well.
• Also up for consideration:  Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, and Ken Riley as players who are not in the Hall who've been 25 years after their careers, and a coach finalist in Don Coryell.