First off, I am so sorry for leaving one person off of my cool list from last week. I sure hope he forgives me.

Steve Merfeld is awesome! This year’s United Way campaign chairman has done a tremendous job in the coordination of raising $615,000 for Freeborn County. This amount was $14,000 more than last year.

In a year that many United Way chapters set back the campaign goals, Steve took on a campaign goal that was very ambitious at $645,000, or about 8 percent higher than the previous year. To say we missed the goal would be wrong in my mind. I like to say that Steve shot for the moon and landed in the stars because of his dedication and hard work. Thanks, Steve. You are too cool!

Also, Freeborn County is awesome! You raised $615,000 for United Way! I have said it time and time again, but this county is second to none in raising money for the less fortunate. Wow!

Awards for the NFL season

What a fun year in the National Football League this past year. Brett Favre being on the Minnesota Vikings made the Packer-Viking rivalry heat up and also kept 80 ESPN reporters employed.

It also made my friends (both Packers and Vikings fans) on both side of the rivalry call me quite a bit, which is good. Being a Packers fan living in Vikings country has been especially fun the last few years. But this year — wow! I am so ready for the playoffs and it looks to be exciting for both teams.

Here are my regular season NFL awards:

Most Valuable Player: Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans.

He ran for more than 2,000 yards is an amazing feat — or feet — and has only been done a few times in the history of the NFL. Enough said!

Most Valuable Player to His Team: Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.

Let me tell you it kills me to say this as I am not a big Peyton fan, but the Colts would be a .500 team at best without this quarterback.

 Defensive Player of the Year: It’s a tie. Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers.

I know it seems like I am taking the easy road and picking two players and you are right. I really cannot decide because both players are fun to watch and have had incredible years.

Most Valuable Viking: Steve Hutchinson, guard.

I think everyone thought I would have picked Brett Favre here, but I chose Hutchinson. He is an amazing offensive lineman that makes the jobs that Favre and Adrian Petersen have a lot easier.

Most Valuable Packer: Aaron Rodgers, quarterback.

Still being able to make all those throws after taking all those hits is really quite amazing. Take a look at his stats, too.

Oh By the Way Award: Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings.

He had 1,312 receiving yards this year. Amazing.

Let the debates begin!

Knee notes

I would like to give a shout out to Dr. Mark Ciota at Albert Lea Medical Center and say good luck at about 9 a.m. Tuesday as you will be operating on my bad knee.

Please do a good job and take your time. I know you are a Vikings fan and I am a Packers fan, but let’s forget that rivalry for the day. Cool!

Thanks.

Brrrrrr

Has it been a bit cold lately? Yes! I was thinking as I was writing about the United Way success that if you want a way to stay warmer, you could set my column on fire and throw it in the fireplace.

Think of it as your own little “Keep the Fires Burning” project. Please actually just try to read the column first and then throw it away. This way you can learn and then burn. Just trying to help.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.