Retro Rider wrote:JohnH19 wrote:
The AP would annually print their list of NFL MVP's in the newspaper
For a long time, they listed Gino Marchetti as the 1958 MVP...he was their "lineman of the year"
they listed Conerly not Unitas as the 1959 MVP (Conerly was the NEA MVP)
They also had co-MVPs for 1960--the AP didn't have awards in 1960
Also, when this was pointed out the AP began to reject the pre-1961 awards as "non-MVPs"
because they were "Player of the Year" awards.
In 1961 Hornung was first AP MVP
but in 1962 AP reverted to Player of the Year Award
then in 1963 they went back to and stuck with MVP.
My opinion, other may disagree is that the UPO Player of the Year are MVP awards
as are the pre-1961 and the 1961 AP POY awards
Only the NEA used MVP until they went defunct---they started in 1955
UPI had a POY with Graham and others winning . . .
these days some are too particular as to the word "valuable" meaning metrics
as such only a quarterback can win it from now on...since
even an average QB has more "value" than even a 2,000-yard, 15 TD
running back.
And a WR need not qualify for MVP...
I think a RB, or a WR, or a defender (Page, LT) should be considered.
I think voters can use metrics if they want but also other criteria
if they want. If they think a RB is the MVP or best player or whatever
they want then vote for him.
I think the valuable was more of a thing is baseball when guys
like Fox and Groat and others were winning it over guys like Mays, Mantle
Aaron, etc...guys who were better player but not as "valuable" to a
winning team.
Baseball is like that or WAS like that. Metrics seem to have taken over there
far more than football.