Soon after Aaron Rodgers’s latest achievement, limping through the 30-20 victory over Detroit that gave the Green Bay Packers a fourth successive NFC North title, teammates left no room for debate.
According to them, he should be named Most Valuable Player for the current season. Next question, please.
Read more: Cam Newton defies physics and now can make a deep run in NFL play-offs
One moment, the quarterback was carted off the field, last Sunday. The next, he was fist-pumping after two Packers touchdowns. That, of course, means he is the proverbial comeback kid and should be the next most valuable player, apparently.
Not so fast. Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt just completed one of the best seasons for a defensive player with 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 10 pass break-ups, four forced fumbles, an interception and five touchdowns. Play to play, he was borderline unblockable.
One must truly see Watt – through the course of a three-hour game, through the constant double-team blocks – to appreciate him. He has single-handedly taken over games this year.
But the Texans finished 9-7 this season and just missed the play-offs. The last MVP who did not make the post-season was Buffalo’s OJ Simpson in 1973.
Only four of the 59 MVP award-winners have not been quarterbacks or running backs. The last defensive player to win was Lawrence Taylor in 1986.
Simpson? Taylor? Watt is in good company and should be next on that MVP line-up.
agray@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
