By John Turney
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| Lamar Jackson |
When the Associated Press (AP) announces its postseason awards in two weeks at the NFL Honors show, Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson will win the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).
Bank on it.
How do I know? Easy. The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) just tipped me off.
Last week that organization named its MVP for the 2024 season, and it wasn't Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, widely considered one of the leading contenders. It was Jackson, and that's more than significant. It seals the deal in my book.
That's because the AP and PFWA agree on their MVP choices nearly every year. In fact, over the 49 years that the two simultaneously released awards, they disagreed only five times ... and not once in the last 20 years. One of those disagreements was 1997 when AP voters had Barry Sanders and Brett Favre tied, while the PFWA's poll chose Sanders alone.
But the last time they disagreed was 21 years ago when, in 2003, PFWA voters picked Ravens' running back Jamal Lewis, and the AP panel forwarded a tie between Peyton Manning and Steve McNair.
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| Art Credit: Mark Adair (McNair), Don Chickinelli (Manning), Mike Schroeder (Lewis) |
And the others?
-- In 1987, the AP went with John Elway in 1987, while the PFWA chose Jerry Rice.
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| Art credit: Merv Corning |
-- In the strike-shortened 1982 season, the AP favored kicker Mark Mosely in 1982, and the PFWA went with Dan Fouts.
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| Art credit: Merv Corning (right) |
-- In 1978, the AP picked Terry Bradshaw, while the PFWA selected Earl Campbell.
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| Art credit: Merv Corning |
For the most part, however, they’re in lockstep. If and when that happens again on Feb. 6, Jackson will become just the seventh player to win at least three AP MVP awards -- joining Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
OK, but what about Defensive Player of the Year? That's a bit less certain. While it’s likely the two organizations will agree, it’s not a lock. The PFWA selected Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos' elite cornerback as its Defensive Player of the Year, and, given the history of these awards, it’s reasonably safe to assume that the AP will follow. It's broken from the PFWA only four times since 1992.
However, three of those disagreements happened since 2010. So, there’s still a chance -- albeit a small one -- that the AP could select someone else.
Then there's the Offensive Player of the Year. The PFWA on Wednesday chose Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley as its recipient, and, while this one feels like another AP/PFWA accord, it's the one award where there's been the most divergence. Nine times in 32 years different players took home the OPOY.
So why does all this matter? Because PFWA awards are officially recognized in the annual "NFL Record and Fact Book," They’re also referenced in the NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement and count toward player incentive bonuses. Additionally, these awards play a role in determining compensatory draft picks for teams that lose unrestricted free agents.
Earlier this week, the PFWA announced Jayden Daniels as its Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year (it has both awards), while Rams' edge rusher Jared Verse was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Then, on Thursday afternoon, the PFWA announced Kevin O'Connell as its Coach of the Year, Detroit executive VP and general manager Brad Holmes its Executive of the Year and Detroit offensive coordinator (and now Chicago Bears' head coach) Ben Johnson its Assistant Coach of the Year. The PFWA's Comeback Player of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year will be revealed Friday.
After that, we can all sit back and wait for Thursday, Feb. 6, when the 14th annual NFL Honors show airs. Then we can compare notes.
BW ...
ReplyDeleteYep, hard to comment because it will be Jackson. Many think this award will vault him towards the HOF as well. Had Roman Gabriel won the award in 1967 instead of John Unitas, would it have helped his HOF chances? Of course, he never won a postseason game as a starting QB.
I always felt that Priest Holmes with the Chiefs was the best ever free agent signing but if Barkley can lead the Eagles all the way, he will come darn close and is already the best, one year signing. Hopefully, the team can seal the deal.
Alot of antsy people awaiting results for the Class Of 2025. Could be the smallest class since 2012, before people had the bright ideas of electing nepotistic owners and contributing executives. Once classes had eight or more members, the inevitable backlash would come, but it could have been avoided if two things happened--
1) Had there never been contributors elected, who never played or coached. This includes all non-original NFL team owners.
2) Had the standards-bar not been lowered for players to get elected. I get it, its a subjective HOF, with voters wanting their own people in, but when players get elected with light accolades, light clutch performances, especially in postseason, and a tendency for voters to worry more about a players reaching statistical milestones, than standard of excellence, then it contributes to a backlash from people who believe in a smaller, more eye-test-oriented Hall Of Fame.
Good points. And all seem reasonable. It does seem like it will be a small class compared to recent classes for the reasons you state.
ReplyDeleteAs faras Gabriel, sure, a 2nd MVP would have had to have been a boost ... had the voting been done after regular season Gabriel might have won it. But by same token Rams, after 11-0 start, finsihed 0-3 ... had that voting taken place later, after the 11--3 limp to the end, maybe it would have cost him votes. The difference being that there was not someone behind him in 1969 like he was to Unitas in 1967.
Honestly don't know. My take is that he kind of had a slow start and a slow finish with about a decade in the middle of good QB play and 4-5 yearsa Pro Bowl or higher level.
Talking to coaches this week, the ones I talk to are curious about their guys ... Suggs, Allen, etc ... guys hey worked with ... it's a badge of honor to have coached HOFer so coaches naturally root for their guys.
Two matters John: 1. regarding Gabriel's 1967 season.....the Rams entered the last 3 games of the regular season at 8-1-2 and won their last 3 games (including breaking my heart) defeating the 11-0-2 Baltimore Colts in Coliseum on the last day giving my Colts the unique distincting of being the only one loss team in NFL history to be excluded from post-season.....lost lhe first round of playoffs to the 9-4-1 Packers.
ReplyDelete2. channeling my inner Lee Corso (or curmudgeon or both!)....re: GOAT..."not so fast my friend...."....let's put the breaks on that Brady stuff.....I'll counter with breaking it down.....I submit Slingin Sammy is the greatest of the one-platoon era, Johnny Hightops in the pre-let's limit qb's to touch football contact, and you can put Brady as #1 since say 1980.....so that's my (heavily biased) $.02
1. On 1967, right -- had the MVP voting been after week 14 he had have made the MVP race close. His strong finish might have propelled him. In 1969, when he won it, his team finished poorly and that could have hurt him that year...however, there may not have been anyone viable that could haveclosed the gap.
ReplyDeleteThe point is maybe he got shorted in 1967 because of strong finish, but also consider (if doing 'what if' game) 1969 ended weakly.
Any anyone's view on who the GOAT at QB is as valid as anyone else's. If you think it's not Brady, it's a legit opinion ...
BW ...
ReplyDeleteWow ... Allen got the MVQB award over Jackson. Even Surtain duplicated the PFWA award ...
Allen sure did. Weird night for Allens, 2 in HOF and 1 MVP. I totally got this wrong, and was very surprised to hear Josh Allen talking in next room when I was at HOF presser ... it was like, "Wait, what did he win?"
DeleteI mean, good for him, he's a great player but the AP QB1 and MVP almost always sympatico as as PFWA MVP and AP MVP.
But not this year --- I missed it bad.
BW ...
DeleteSpeaking of the Allen triplets, Eric Allen made it seem like two seniors getting elected, since his eligibility was running out but its fitting, considering he covered Sharpe during his career. Many are upset that Holmgren didnt go in with Sharpe, with the irony considering that Holmgren and Wolf had to release him after the 1994 season. Sharpe felt he would continue to play but was talked out of it. A wise decision.
You got it wrong Mr. Turney, the Bills Josh Allen was MVP.
DeleteYeah, I sure did get it wrong. No question. I admitted it the comments last night. I will be wrong on things in future, have been wrong on things in the past. But live and learn! But I do get stuff right once in a while :)
DeleteIt was a tight race. Jackson was deserving and Allen was also worthy of being M-V-P. It is fitting that Allen gets the A-P and Jackson got the PFWoA. It was a year when no one was clear-cut M-V-P.
DeleteThree of the former white QBs voted Allen. Only Tom Brady voted for Jackson. That was the difference. Lamar should have been MVP
DeleteBW ...
DeleteI respectfully disagree. Jackson and Allen had huge seasons, with Jackson having eye-popping statistics. Many thought and believed he should be MVP, but you have to look at the offenses of the two teams.
Allen basically had new receivers other than Kincaid and Shakir, and Shakir caught only 39 balls in 2023, so this year was his first as a primary target.
James Cook had a tremendous season and the offensive line played well, but the Ravens had the dynamic Derrick Henry, who bolted off 50 yard runs all season, behind a talented line. They had their starting receivers from last year in Flowers and Bateman and two of the most talented tight ends in football with Andrews and Likely. I stated even before the season that these two tight ends could have 1000 yards apiece, but many catches went to Justice Hill, who had a tremendous receiving year out of the backfield. The Ravens simply had an advantage over the Bills at the skill positions and Jackson, with two MVP awards already, utilized them well.
Allen and Jackson both can run but while Jackson had more TD passes, Allen had more TD runs and is called upon in more short yardage situations.
The Ravens situation reminds me of the Rams with Warner and Faulk. How could you really have an MVP between the two, when both were at the top of their games? Derrick Henry nearly had 2000 yards and 18 TDs! Some felt he was even more valuable over the five game stretch that allowed them to win the division title.
Allen, I felt, carried his team more and beat both the Chiefs and the Ravens, while cutting down his turnovers from previous seasons. Unfortunately, in the playoffs, which is a recurring theme, too many Bills teammates fail to step up in a huge game while watching to see what Allen will do to win the game. Until he gets the right supporting cast, with a defense that can actually stop the Chiefs, when it counts, he will have to wait, like Jackson, for his SB championship.
It's about race?
ReplyDelete