N.F.L. Hosts Red Carpet Awards Ceremony When a 20-story high image of the Lombardi Trophy, nightly fireworks displays, a weeklong block party that gridlocks downtown traffic and a nonstop trumpet revelry of hype are not enough, there is only one thing left for the N.F.L. to do: host a Hollywood-style awards show, complete with red-carpet entrances for players, retired legends and celebrities. The first National Football League Honors ceremony took place at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis on Saturday evening. The televised event turned the presentation of Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Man of the Year, and other awards into another opportunity for pomp and spectacle, something the under-recognized league dearly needs. Players, coaches, and other dignitaries received the full award-show treatment as they walked the red carpet. Television crews from local affiliates, sports networks, music networks and programs like "Entertainment Tonight" jostled for space with a handful of sports reporters wondering exactly how detailed a football question should be asked of a player in a three-piece suit while his wife looks on in a sequined gown. As questions whiplashed between fashion selections and football predictions, the red carpet became a mini Media Day for everyone involved in the N.F.L. who is not participating in the Super Bowl. Rex Ryan was the first to arrive, reaching the red carpet a full 15 minutes before guests of honor were scheduled to appear. Such newfound hyper-punctuality can only mean one thing: Ryan is taking a page from the Tom Coughlin playbook. Ryan spent several minutes broadly discussing the changes he plans to make for next year ("I plan to coach more," he said at one point) and resisted the urge to make a prediction. "If I make a prediction on the Super Bowl, and that team loses, I'll get blamed for it," he said. Players soon began to arrive sporting a staggering range of fashions. Vernon Davis looked splendid in a black shirt, black tie, gray blazer and diamond earrings, but Davis could probably look good wearing a trashcan liner. On the other side of the formality spectrum, LeSean McCoy wore a gray crewneck T-shirt, sunglasses and a checkered black-and-gray wool cap. When it comes to being fashion forward, McCoy prefers to juke. And then there was Brandon Marshall, in a salmon-colored sport coat with a green plaid cravat and matching pocket square. Amazingly, his wife found a way to match. Players like to talk about "swagger," but few display it, at least once they trade in shoulder pads for formal wear. Some players strutted with confidence, but most sheepishly walked the red carpet as if shuffling forward in line for their prom pictures. Retired players and television personalities looked even more awkward; a few recently retired quarterbacks lurched along as if they were trying to demonstrate the seven-step drop in reverse. Mike Mayock of the N.F.L. Network, by contrast, swanned past photographers like Fred Astaire after receiving some unexpected good news. As a draft expert, Mayock spends a lot of time studying the footwork of much younger men, and he clearly applies what he knows. The man should have his own cologne: "Draftnik No. Along this particular red carpet, the recurring question was not "who are you wearing?" but "what do you think about Rob Gronkowski's ankle injury?" Jeff Saturday was asked about Gronkowski's ankle. Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates were asked about Gronkowski's ankle. Dwight Freeney was asked about Gronkowski's ankle. If Gronkowski's ankle rolled down the aisle by itself, we would dutifully snap pictures and ask it how it was doing. Next year's guest list should include the personal physician of the Super Bowl participant with the most speculative injury. Tim Tebow maneuvered past photographers so quickly it looked as if the whole Jets defense was still trying to catch him. Alec Baldwin indulged a few brief interviews before disappearing, but his brother Billy Baldwin stopped to provide a long discourse on his opinions of both teams. Bottom line: He is picking the Giants. The teenage movie werewolf Taylor Lautner waved and sprinted into the theater almost as quickly as Tebow did. Tebow and Lautner in the same venue: if you feel your house tilting toward Indianapolis, it's just the pop culture critical mass creating a gravity well. The star power at the ceremony was undeniable, but even players seemed sketchy about the necessity of the event. A reporter asked Freeney if he would win an award. "For what?" he asked. For many players and personalities, N.F.L. honors is just one more activity on a whirlwind schedule of promotional engagements, television and radio appearances, and parties that seem more like obligations than opportunities to relax. It's a schedule that started last week and will not end until the game itself. And every player at the ceremony was acutely aware that he would not be participating in the game itself. "Let me be clear," D'Brickishaw Ferguson said. I will definitely not be staying for the game. Award Winners: Walter Payton Man of the Year: Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints Defensive Player of the Year: Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, Denver Broncos Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers Comeback Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions