MVP, the term is thrown around subjectively. What does it mean though? Is it who has the best stats on the season? Is it who is most improved? Or is it literally what the acronym stands for, who is your team’s most valuable player?
Look at the Oakland Raiders, without Dereck Carr there entire team fell into disrepair and went 0-2. That’s why if I could cast a vote he would be my MVP. Yes without Matt Ryan the offense in Atlanta would not be the juggernaut that it is but it would be able to survive with the likes of Devonte Freeman and Tevin Coleman in the backfield.
Some might compare Ryan to Peyton Manning when he won the award in 2013. Here’s the difference, Manning was the cog that made that dominant offense tick. Yes he was benifited by All pro receiver Demaryius Thomas and future hall of famer Wes Welker. Without Manning Point Gaurding the attack that team would not have been as good as it was. To be fair without Ryan the Falcons offense wouldn’t be nearly as dominant but the year Manning won the MVP the class competing against him wasn’t nearly as dominant.
Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Dereck Carr, Tom Brady, Eziekiel Elliot, and Dak Prescott are all in the conversation for MVP this year. Manning stood alone after a record setting season. So it’s best to take a look at what these teams would have done without these star players. Here is my list of the MVP candidates ranked.
- Dereck Carr: Without Carr the Raiders were devastated and couldn’t compete with even the league’s worst offense in the Houston Texans.
- Aaron Rodgers: Hes probably tied for first with Carr. The Packers defense was completely inept this year without Rodgers heroics the Pack wouldn’t have made the playoffs. Still I believe they would have had a better overall record than the Oakland Raiders without Carr if they were without 12.
- Eziekiel Elliot: Here is the major question who makes who better? Does Dak Prescott make Eziekiel Elliot a super star or does Elliot catapult Dak into that discussion I tend to stand with the latter. Without Elliot neither Prescott or Romo for that matter would have the success this Dallas offense had this year.
- Matt Ryan: The comparison to Peyton Manning is spot on. Manning in 2013 distributed the ball just as Ryan did and got his team all the way to the Super Bowl. Ryan did the same this year but he was benefited with more weapons than Carr and Rodgers.
- Tom Brady: Brady had a great year. When he was suspended though and without TE Rob Gronkowski Jimmy Garappalo tore up defenses and Jacoby Brisset had a massive performance against the Texans, one of the best defenses in the league, to take the Pats 3-1 without Brady. If anyone on the Pats deserves an award its Bill Belicheck for coach of the year. He’ll never get it though because of his greatness though, that’s a discussion for another post though.
- Dak Prescott: No one is asking this but what if Prescott isn’t as good next year. What if theres a significant Sophmore slump to come? We need to see more of Prescott before you crown him MVP.
None of this will matter though. On Febuary 4th at the NFL honors either Brady or Ryan will win the award. Ryan deserves it more that offense was dominant this season and should be put in conversation with the 2013 Broncos. We need to take a look at the name of this award though. It should just be called the best player award because that’s who gets it. MVP is most valuable player to a team and NBA fans I’ll give you this. KD or Lebron James are now favored to win the MVP. It should be Russell Westbrook without a question that man is literally Carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without Westbrook the Thunder wouldn’t be able to compete just as without Carr the Raiders were doomed.
