Top Five (Non QB) MVP CANDIDATES
Last year Aaron Rodgers took home the trophy and since the turn of the century, quarterbacks have won the NFL MVP award nine times. Peyton Manning has four MVP trophies alone (sharing with Steve McNair in '03). Running backs are the remaining recipients–Marshall Faulk in 2000, Shaun Alexander in 2005 and LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006. QBs do their thing and this year, if it was all about field generals, I'd make Tom Brady the winner, followed by Peyton Manning and Robert Griffin III ( leads the league in QB rating, has thrown for 2,906 yards, 18 TD's, only four picks and run for 748 yards now). Is it time that a quarterback award is handed out similar to the MLB Cy Young? I say yes. Until then, players like the five candidates referenced here might go unnoticed by history. Yes, other positions have awards and other honors are handed out as well, but this is a year where multiple records could fall. To only acknowledge a quarterback as MVP would be the wrong thing to do.
Michael Tillery is a Shadow League contributor. He's co-founder of The Starting Five and has written for The Nation, New York Times, Sacramento and SLAM Magazines. Follow him @ michaeltillery.
