The Jerry Rice Effect
There has never been a Wide Receiver (Or receiving Player - TE) that has won MVP.
The closest anyone has been in Jerry Rice, who won Offensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1993. Where QB John Elway and RB Emmitt Smith took home MVP respectively. There has only been two receivers taken No. 1 overall in the draft (Post-Merger) Irving Fryar was taken by the Pats in 1984 and had a pretty damn good career, he’s still the oldest player to have 4 receiving touchdowns in a game. Keyshawn Johnson was the other taken by the Jets in ’96 who played for 11 years and went to 3 Pro Bowls and took home a Superbowl ring with Tampa Bay in 2003.
But why has a Receiver never took home the prestigious award, in what appears to be a Golden era of the receivers. And what would it take for a Receiver to deserve the award.
Catch 22
Whenever a Receiver has a standout season, a QB is usually praised for getting him so involved and being so accurate. However brightly a Receiver shines, the darling QB shines that little bit brighter. A Receiver would need to have a merry-go-round of bad Quarterbacks but still put up a 1800+ yard season, ideally breaking the 2k Mark and setting a new record. But that would require the Starting QB to be Tom Brady, with his back up being Drew Brees and his back up being Aaron Rodgers. With each not staying on the field long enough to gain any recognition. On the other hand if a Receiver can catch short game manager style passes and consistently break off a big run this could propel them over the QB.
The Right Reception
The player would have to be clean as a whistle. No OBJ antics, no AB twerking — Although both were fun for us. He needs to be as clean as Julio Jones. The sort of player who says the right things, helps old ladies cross the street, plays through an injury and still puts absurd numbers, and knows when to say he should sit because he can’t help the team win. He’d have to have the right level of fun, for the media and public to fall in love with him. Maybe start a viral dance or move, Cam certainly benefited and I’m still having to punt small children across restaurants when I see them attempt to Dab.
Receive No Injuries
I know it sounds obvious. But how many times do we see a Star Receiver get a toe injury. Or hamstring ailments. Or a shoulder injury. If a Receiver was to be up for an MVP caliber season he’d need to avoid all these, I know they’re not season-enders like Running Backs seem to face regularly but these little niggling injuries is what derails Receivers seasons.
The Target
Beat double teams on a regular basis and make the plays in the End Zone. How many times have we seen Ben Roethlisberger March up the field abusing Antonio Browns abilities and then pass it to a drug addict or an incredibly quick brick. Or Derek Carr leading it up the field with Amari Cooper and then pass it to the diet coke of receivers. Mediocre some might say.
A MVP caliber Receiver needs to be the teams go to option in the Red Zone. No matter if they’re double teamed, triple teamed. I don’t care if they have two wide open guys standing in the end zone waiting for a pass. It needs to be to that one Receiver. He’d have to have a couple multiple score games, and all this needs to translate to wins. No point catching a second TD if you’re already in a garbage time loss. Ideally our theoretical candidate would also end the season with 20 odd touchdowns. A feat only done by Randy Moss and Jerry Rice.
Which takes me to the final reason why a Receiver has not won this award. GOAT of basketball Michael Jordan was a 5 time MVP winner. Hockey GOAT Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Trophy (Hockeys monopoly money of MVPs) 9 times. Tom Brady GOAT QB has won the season MVP twice. Jim Brown GOAT running back has won the regular season MVP twice over his career. But Jerry Rice, the greatest Receiver of all time, who holds so many holy shit stats that’ll likely never be broken by one man holds zero regular season MVP awards to his name. And if the best in history didn’t win it, what chance does anyone else have.
