Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers receives the AP Most Valuable Player of the Year Award at the NFL Honors show Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) |
The Associated Press 2021 NFL awards had a bit of
everything, starting with Aaron Rodgers becoming the fifth player to repeat as
Most Valuable Player.
“It is kind of surreal sitting here,” Rodgers said. “Being a
four-time MVP is crazy.
“They’re all different. They’ve all unique in their own ways
and this one feels the sweetest.”
Despite the turmoil of training camp and the headlines
created by the Green Bay quarterback when he misled the public on his COVID-19
vaccination, Rodgers’ play on the field was superb. So much so that he earned
39 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the
NFL. Not even one of Tom Brady’s best performances — in his final season — came
close in the MVP race, with the Buccaneers quarterback getting 10 votes.
Only Peyton Manning with five MVP awards is ahead of
Rodgers, who said no announcement on his future in the NFL is imminent.
“There was something to how I felt walking off the field,”
he said. “I had great conversations with the Packers before I left town. There
have been changes to the staff. Just comes down to weighing where I am at
mentally and what the commitment is.
”I don’t fear retirement and moving on. I’m very proud of
what I have accomplished over being in Green Bay for 17 years. Also still
highly competitive and bitter taste from the NFC game. I was frustrated about
things during the offseason and I feel like there’s so much growth. There were
some things voiced privately, and I am thankful for the response. There were
things done to make me feel special and important.”
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp got one vote for MVP, but he
easily took top offensive player honors. Kupp and Cincinnati quarterback Joe
Burrow (Comeback Player) and wideout Ja’Marr Chase (Offensive Rookie) will face
off in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Kupp led the NFL with 138 receptions, 1,829 yards receiving
and 15 touchdown catches while leading Los Angeles to the NFC West title. A
unanimous All-Pro, he received 35 votes, far in front of Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor (10).
Kupp was so productive while working with a new passer,
Matthew Stafford, that he had 14 games with at least 10 catches, no games with
fewer than seven. Though he isn’t the fastest nor strongest wideout, he had 100
yards receiving in 11 contests.
Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, a unanimous All-Pro like
Kupp, led the NFL in sacks with a record-tying 22 1/2. He joined brother J.J.,
a three-time winner of Defensive Player of the Year.
“I’m not huge on individual awards,” said Pittsburgh’s Watt,
“but it’s tough not to want that when I saw my brother at the height of his
career win that award three times. And I always just thought to myself why
can’t I do that?”
You have, T.J.
“Some moments are just special. Couldn’t be more proud ofyou,” older brother J.J. tweeted after he’d announced the winner on stage.
Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons, who came in second to Watt
for top defensive player — but 37 votes behind — was a unanimous choice for
Defensive Rookie of the Year. Parsons not only helped the Cowboys turn around
their defensive performance this season, but he was so dynamic he helped
coordinator Dan Quinn win the assistant coach award.
Parsons promised he would get next what Watt has now.
“It’s an honor, and I’m still hungry, you now what I mean?”
he said. “I’m coming for him next year. ... But I guess it’ll be something for
me to have ... for next year.”
In the Bengals’ worst-to-first AFC North rise, and then deep
into the playoffs, Chase was a major contributor. The fifth overall pick in
last April’s draft despite skipping the 2020 season at LSU due to the COVID-19
pandemic, Chase had 81 receptions for 1,455 yards with 13 touchdowns.
His quarterback, of course, was Burrow, two years after they
helped LSU win the national championship. Burrow’s rookie season was cut short
by a knee injury in his 10th game with a 2-7-1 record. The Bengals quarterback
sure made up for that in 2021. He smashed single-season franchise records for
passer rating (108.3), yards (4,611), TDs passing and 300-yard games (six). His
precision passing ranked first in the league at a 70.4% completion percentage,
and despite being sacked a league-high 51 times, Burrow had an 8.9 yards per
attempt that also led the NFL.
Mike Vrabel’s work with the Titans earned him Coach of the
Year. Despite using a record for a non-strike season 91 players, and losing his
very best, running back Derrick Henry, for half the schedule, Vrabel led
Tennessee to the AFC South crown and the conference’s top seed.
“It is a reflection of our football team and staff,” Vrabel
explained. “They make a connection with our players. Players will come and go,
I played for 14 years. You can still make a connection and care for your guys.
“I’m excited about it because we have had adversity and been
able to persevere through that.”
Rams veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth, who also played for
the Bengals, won the league’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award. -AP
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