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MVP Selection Of Aaron Rodgers Highlights Quarterback Bias Issue In NFL

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was selected as the 2014 NFL MVP recipient.

Rodgers had a great year and it is no surprise that he was selected for this award. The reason why it isn’t a surprise, however, had nothing to do with his play. It has been clearly established by just about everyone associated with the NFL in a position of power (Commissioner Roger Goodell, owners, referees, etc.) that the quarterback is the most important, and hence the most valuable, position in professional football.

J.J. Watt did just about everything a non-QB in the NFL could do in a year to prove he deserved the award, short of kicking a few game-winning field goals. Over 20 sacks, four FFs, four TDs, from both the defensive and offensive side of the ball, and a host of other major impact plays spelled out his case.

Without Watt on the field this year, the Houston Texans might have won three games at best. Yes, Rodgers’ team went to the playoffs and Watt’s team didn’t. But if you are talking about the player who most impacted their entire team’s performance, Watt wins hands down.

Rodgers had several other contributors who had an amazing 2014 season as well. Jody Nelson made his first Pro Bowl and was arguably just as important to the Packers’ success as Rodgers was. Randall Cobb had a strong year, as well as the hard running Eddie Lacy. And while Rodgers is the main catalyst for the Packers’ winning season, these players starred in major roles as well.

Watt, on the other hand, didn’t have much around him. Maybe that is why the Texans put him on offense as well as defense. An example of the Texans’ struggles this year, as well as an example of Watt’s greatness? Watt had as many receiving TDs as Houston WR Andre Johnson (3).

Unfortunately for Watt, he had to contend with the bias that the NFL has towards quarterbacks. They are better protected, higher paid and more beloved than any other person in the field. It’s no coincidence that out of the 58 times an NFL player has been selected for the MVP award, a quarterback has won it 40 times.

This includes seven out of the last eight. Watt would have had to have thrown for at least 15 TDs to have a realistic chance. And while fans pay to see big-time quarterbacks throw big-time TDs, once in a while the AP needs to acknowledge just how important defensive players are as well. This was the year to do it.

Watt would have been the first defensive player to have won the award since the N.Y. Giants‘ Lawrence Taylor in 1986. Sadly, Watt never stood a chance.

Jonathan George is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonageorge. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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