The NFL is a league known for its intense competition and nail-biting games. Every year, fans eagerly await the announcement of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which is given to the player who has made the most impact on their team’s success. However, in recent years, there has been a growing concern about the way the MVP award is being chosen in the NFL.
In most sports, the MVP award is usually given to the best player on the best team. This makes sense, as the best player is often the one who contributes the most to their team’s success. However, the NFL is not like most sports. With a roster of 53 players, it takes a collective effort from the entire team to achieve success. Yet, it seems that the media voters only consider one position when choosing the MVP – the quarterback.
This year, former MVP and quarterback Cam Newton spoke out about the issue, stating that running backs (RBs) deserve more consideration for the MVP award. And he’s not wrong. RBs are a crucial part of any team’s offense and often carry the bulk of the workload. They have to be strong, agile, and have great vision to navigate through the defense and gain those crucial yards. Yet, their contributions are often overlooked when it comes to the MVP award.
Take, for example, Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans. He led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in the 2020 season, but he was not even in the conversation for the MVP award. This is despite the fact that he single-handedly carried his team to the playoffs and was a major factor in their success. It’s a shame that RBs like Henry are not given the recognition they deserve.
Another RB who has been consistently overlooked for the MVP award is Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers. In the 2019 season, he became only the third player in NFL history to have over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. He was also responsible for over 40% of the Panthers’ total offensive yards. Yet, he did not even make it to the top five in the MVP voting.
It’s clear that RBs are not getting the recognition they deserve when it comes to the MVP award. The question is, why? One reason could be the emphasis on passing in the NFL. The league has become more pass-oriented in recent years, and quarterbacks are often seen as the face of the team. This makes it easier for them to stand out and be considered for the MVP award. But this should not discount the contributions of RBs, who often have to overcome more obstacles and make more difficult plays.
There is also the argument that RBs have a shorter career span compared to quarterbacks, who can play well into their late 30s or even 40s. This means that RBs have a smaller window of opportunity to make an impact and earn the MVP award. But this should not be a reason to discount their contributions. Their impact on the field should be the determining factor, not the length of their career.
So, what can be done to ensure that RBs are given the consideration they deserve for the MVP award? The first step is to change the mindset of the media voters. They need to start looking beyond just the quarterback position and recognize the contributions of other players on the team. RBs should be given equal consideration for their on-field performance.
The NFL could also consider changing the criteria for the MVP award. Instead of just looking at individual statistics, the award could take into account the player’s impact on the team’s success. This would give RBs a fair chance at competing for the MVP award.
In conclusion, it’s time for the NFL to recognize the contributions of RBs and give them the consideration they deserve for the MVP award. They are an integral part of the team and play a significant role in their team’s success. It’s time to break away from the quarterback-centric mindset and give credit where it’s due. As Cam Newton said, “It’s time to start giving the running backs some love for the MVP.” And we couldn’t agree more.
