This year’s MVP award is causing some mounting annoyance as the NFL regular season comes to a close. The Most Valuable Player in the NFL’s Regular Season is decided by a panel of 50 sports writers each year.
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This honor has traditionally gone to NFL quarterbacks. Over the course of history, there have been exceptions. For instance, most fans will likely recall defensive tackle Alan Page winning it in and running back Adrian Peterson of the Vikings winning it in 2012. In the league’s history, he was the only defensive tackle to receive the honor.
If a quarterback doesn’t take home the prize, it usually means that another player dominated that season. The 2022 season is brought up by that idea.
Former first-round quarterback Robert Griffin III isn’t happy with undue attention being given to Quarterbacks
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III believes the league should look beyond his former position when selecting the 2022 MVP. Griffin took to Twitter on Wednesday to advocate for players like Minnesota Vikings wide out Justin Jefferson and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa to be considered for the award.
The NFL MVP SHOULDN’T just be a QB Award. The discussion revolves around the best QBs on the best teams but when guys are having a SPECIAL YEAR like Justin Jefferson and Nick Bosa they have EANRED THE RIGHT to be in the conversation. @JJettas2
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 28, 2022
Griffin III is completely correct in his assessment. While Griffin III believes that Jefferson should be considered for the MVP award, there is a recent example of why that is unlikely. Last season, Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was as dominant as Jefferson this season, nearly breaking both Thomas’ and Johnson’s single-season records. Despite his outstanding season, he received only one of the 50 votes cast for NFL MVP in 2021.
This season, Jefferson might be able to break the mould. If he can break one or both of those records, it will strengthen his case. Justin Jefferson has been on fire all season, breaking multiple records in Vikings history and on his way to potentially breaking two more NFL records this season. Jefferson currently has 123 receptions for 1,756 yards with two games remaining, but he hasn’t been considered for MVP.
Nick Bosa is another player who is having a fantastic season this year. Bosa, the Niners’ rusher, leads the league with 17.5 sacks and 48 tackles. He’s emerged as the NFL’s top front-seven player.
The conversation is dominated by elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen. Most likely, one of them will win the prize this winter. Griffin and many others believe that the non-quarterbacks should receive much better treatment than they have in the past. Bosa and Jefferson are excellent illustrations of this.
