Quote:
Originally Posted by Hayneplane
Mahomes has definitely been the standout guy this year but it would surely give a fairer complexion if the award was called Player of the Year as it is for most sports outside of America.
By definition the QB is so far and away the most critical member of the 53 man roster that nobody can reasonably be considered more valuable but voters might reward outstanding play from any position instead if it was a player of the year award so that getting 18 sacks/12 interceptions/1800 receiving yards or rushing yards could be better weighed against 5000 passing yards and 35+ touchdown passes.
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I think they should have two separate categories, an MVP and a non-QB player of the year. Both would be interesting to me. If a non-QB can win MVP, that's great and they should be eligible. But the game today is all about the quarterback and we all know it.
Interestingly, here's the breakdown of MVP (Associated Press) by decade since the first award in 1957, broken down by QB versus non-QB
2010-2021 - 11 QB, 1 other (RB)
2000-2009 - 8 QB, 3 other (3 RBs). There was one tie, hence the total of 11.
1990-1999 - 7 QB, 4 other (4 RBs). Again, there was a tie one year.
1981-1989 - 7 QB, 3 other (1 LB, 1 RB, 1 K)
1971-1979 - 5 QB, 5 other (1 DT, 4 RBs)
1957-1969 - 8 QB, 5 other (5 RBs)
So it's a little new for quarterbacks to completely dominate the award, but they've always been a majority. And the only other position that has won more than once has been the running back position. So pretty much, unless you're a huge outlier, you have to handle the ball a lot to get the MVP award.
If we had both an MVP and a non-QB Player of the Year, it's going to be a ball handler, and in the modern era it'll probably go to a WR a majority of the time.