Josh D. Weiss-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Huff has a lot of respect from Raider Nation. He might not ever live up to his draft status but he’s been nothing but a pro since the first time he put on a Silver and Black jersey.

2012 will go down as the year Huff officially cemented himself as a fan favorite for his transition from safety to corner when the Raiders saw their starting corners disappear due to injury.

To Huff’s credit he grinded his way through the season, improving each week in helping Jason Tarver’s defense to look like a respectable unit come the end of the campaign. Huff was selected by the Raiders as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and has now been honored for his play on the field.

Though it doesn’t carry the weight of say an All-Pro nod USA Today’s All-Joe Team does carry a certain prestige as it honors the overlooked and hardworking players of the NFL. Here is what USA Today had to say of Huff.

Michael Huff (Raiders): Was he great in coverage? No. But he gets a tip of the cap for his team-first attitude, shifting from safety to corner (a position he hadn’t played since college) after Oakland was ravaged by injuries.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

For his charitable acts and volunteer work off the field the Raiders have tabbed Michael Huff as their official nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Each NFL franchise nominates one player from their team for the award with the winner’s charity receiving a $25,000 donation in their name.

Huff’s season on the field was highlighted with an impressive transition to playing cornerback. The safety was asked to learn a new position on the fly due to the Raiders’ complete lack of depth. After a shaky start Huff blossomed into the Raiders’ most dependable corner which might not be saying much but does speak to his dedication.

As for his many deeds done off the field Huff was extremely active in the community including representing the Raiders for the United Way’s TEAM NFL. He recently visited an elementary school in Oakland as part of the NFL’s Play 60 program and even helped serve Chipotle burritos as part of Raider Fan appreciation night.

The NFL will announce three finalists later this month then will reveal the winner of the award at the Super Bowl.

Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE

He’s no Nnamdi Asomugha…well…according Michael Huff he’s better than Aso but we know that’s not the case. Anyhow…

Huff Daddy isn’t going to be confused with Oakland’s former shutdown corner but if he continues to improve there’s no telling what kind of career Huff might have from here out.

One thing is very clear and that is that no matter who was coaching the Raiders in 2012 Huff was going to do time out on the island. Hue Jackson said Huff was going to make the fulltime move to corner before Reggie McKenzie was hired and quickly relieved Jackson of his duties. With Dennis Allen in place Huff was slated to remain at safety in an expanded Charles Woodson-like role. As we know that lasted only as long as the two veteran corners McKenzie signed lasted.

By week four Huff had taken over fulltime at corner which is where he would have ended up any way had Jackson kept his job. So in many ways this was a foregone conclusion.

What also looked like a given was Huff getting toasted like bread at Quiznos every Sunday. His first few outings at corner induced a similar reaction to when I heard National Treasure was working on its third installment. Cringing was mandatory every time an opposing QB dropped back to pass.

But to Huff and the coaching staff’s credit they kept at it as there were no other solutions in sight. The result has been a much improved and more comfortable Huff. In fact, I’d argue that Huff’s transition to playing corner in the NFL has gone much better than his transition to the NFL from college.

It’s not like playing corner is totally new to Huff. As a rookie he did time in the slot and saw plenty of the same action last season. It’s just a much different animal when you’re on your own out on the island. That’s where Huff and Asomugha have something to debate. Huff would argue that Aso didn’t have nearly the responsibilities he does in Allen’s new defensive scheme.  Of course Asomugha can just read the list of Hall of Fame receivers he’s shutdown to end the debate.

But what really matters above all is winning. What has kept Huff employed in the NFL is his willingness to do whatever the coaching staff requires. In that regard he’d play linebacker if Coach Allen asked him to and I’m sure that after a month of that he’d be telling Rolando McClain how much better he is. Of course, in that case Huff might actually have an argument.