NFL MVP's who didn't deserve to win

[CSKreager]

I remember years ago Elliott Harrison who used to do historical videos for NFL Films on YouTube in the later 2010’s once did his Top 10 MVP snubs which he made back in early 2018.

Here were his choices:

10: 2008: Ed Reed instead of Peyton Manning

9: 1982: Wes Chandler and Everson Walls instead of Mark Moseley

8: 1965: Gale Sayers instead of Jim Brown

7: 2003: Priest Holmes instead of Peyton Manning and Steve McNair

6: 1971: Roger Staubach instead of Alan Page

5: 1990: Derrick Thomas and Randall Cunningham instead of Joe Montana

4: 2009: Chris Johnson instead of Peyton Manning (I’ve also heard people say Drew Brees instead Peyton in 09 as well)

3: 1983: Eric Dickerson instead of Joe Theismann

2: 2014: J.J. Watt instead of Aaron Rodgers

1: 1987: Jerry Rice instead of John Elway

Not in that video, but another I’ve also heard is 1986: Dan Marino instead of Lawrence Taylor, and the person argued that the Dolphins, while 8-8, had the best offense in the NFL and one of the worst defenses; the latter being something that is out of the quarterbacks control (unless we are far back enough that players played both ways which is not the case in 1986).

Ed Reed? He wasn’t even DPOY that year! How can you be considered an MVP snub when you weren’t even considered the most valuable DEFENSIVE player that year?

[Brian wolf]

Thanks SeahawkFever ... some good choices. Wes Chandler is a good choice but splits with Fouts. Staubach definitely picked up the team after being finally named starter but the running game really gained steam right through the SB. Johnson and Sayers are good calls as well but Manning was part of a continuing MVQB trend and Brown was still dominating the league. Many people agree on Rice but Montana split the vote.

[SeahawkFever]

I remember years ago Elliott Harrison who used to do historical videos for NFL Films on YouTube in the later 2010’s once did his Top 10 MVP snubs which he made back in early 2018.

Here were his choices:

10: 2008: Ed Reed instead of Peyton Manning

9: 1982: Wes Chandler and Everson Walls instead of Mark Moseley

8: 1965: Gale Sayers instead of Jim Brown

7: 2003: Priest Holmes instead of Peyton Manning and Steve McNair

6: 1971: Roger Staubach instead of Alan Page

5: 1990: Derrick Thomas and Randall Cunningham instead of Joe Montana

4: 2009: Chris Johnson instead of Peyton Manning (I’ve also heard people say Drew Brees instead Peyton in 09 as well)

3: 1983: Eric Dickerson instead of Joe Theismann

2: 2014: J.J. Watt instead of Aaron Rodgers

1: 1987: Jerry Rice instead of John Elway

Not in that video, but another I’ve also heard is 1986: Dan Marino instead of Lawrence Taylor, and the person argued that the Dolphins, while 8-8, had the best offense in the NFL and one of the worst defenses; the latter being something that is out of the quarterbacks control (unless we are far back enough that players played both ways which is not the case in 1986).

Ed Reed? He wasn’t even DPOY that year! How can you be considered an MVP snub when you weren’t even considered the most valuable DEFENSIVE player that year?

I’d agree that that was one of Harrison’s weakest choices on there, but he did rank it last.

He cited the fact that the Ravens made the AFC Championship Game with a rookie quarterback as a justification; well part of that would have been winning a playoff game, and that shouldn’t factor into an award like this.

And as you’ll see if you look at my other post on non quarterbacks and running backs to receive MVP votes, Ed Reed in 2008 was not one of them.

What do you think of his other nine selections?

[SeahawkFever]

Thanks SeahawkFever ... some good choices. Wes Chandler is a good choice but splits with Fouts. Staubach definitely picked up the team after being finally named starter but the running game really gained steam right through the SB. Johnson and Sayers are good calls as well but Manning was part of a continuing MVQB trend and Brown was still dominating the league. Many people agree on Rice but Montana split the vote.

I should clarify that I did not make that list, Elliot Harrison who used to work for NFL Network did.

The issue for any wide receiver is that unless there’s an injury and he played with multiple quarterbacks, his quarterback will also likely receive votes.

[conace21]

I remember years ago Elliott Harrison who used to do historical videos for NFL Films on YouTube in the later 2010’s once did his Top 10 MVP snubs which he made back in early 2018.

Here were his choices:

10: 2008: Ed Reed instead of Peyton Manning

9: 1982: Wes Chandler and Everson Walls instead of Mark Moseley

8: 1965: Gale Sayers instead of Jim Brown

7: 2003: Priest Holmes instead of Peyton Manning and Steve McNair

6: 1971: Roger Staubach instead of Alan Page

5: 1990: Derrick Thomas and Randall Cunningham instead of Joe Montana

4: 2009: Chris Johnson instead of Peyton Manning (I’ve also heard people say Drew Brees instead Peyton in 09 as well)

3: 1983: Eric Dickerson instead of Joe Theismann

2: 2014: J.J. Watt instead of Aaron Rodgers

1: 1987: Jerry Rice instead of John Elway

Not in that video, but another I’ve also heard is 1986: Dan Marino instead of Lawrence Taylor, and the person argued that the Dolphins, while 8-8, had the best offense in the NFL and one of the worst defenses; the latter being something that is out of the quarterbacks control (unless we are far back enough that players played both ways which is not the case in 1986).

Ed Reed? He wasn’t even DPOY that year! How can you be considered an MVP snub when you weren’t even considered the most valuable DEFENSIVE player that year?

Because it could be argued that Ed Reed was not the best defensive player that year, but he was still the "Most Valuable" to his club. After all, the Offensive POY and MVP are often awarded to two different players.

[conace21]

Jerry Rice had an NFL record for receiving touchdowns while playing only 12 games. Joe Montana was great, but Rice deserved the MVP so much more than either QB. Voting went Elway-36, Rice-30, Montana-18.

Rice had several two-yard TD's, though. And, he partly feasted on bad teams like Atlanta, the Rams (that year, not in 88 and 89), and Green Bay. Elway was the main reason that the Broncos were in the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.

That's not very convincing. Even if you took away all of Rice's 1, 2 and 3 yard touchdowns, he still would have finished with 16 on the year. That still would have led the NFL, and on a per-game-average, it still would have been the best by a WR since Elroy Hirsch's outrageous 1951 season.

Rice did feast on bad teams. He also feasted on the Bears for three touchdowns, all from Steve Young. He also feasted on the Browns for three touchdowns.

[Brian wolf]

Rice in 1987 also beat the Bengals on a play that should have never happened. Sam Wyche and his team had brain-freeze the final minute of that game.

[Sonny9]

Mark Moseley deserved the MVP.

The Redskins offense was weak that year. Riggins had a bad season 3.1 avg per carry and 3 TDs

Moseley made 9 more FGs than the league average. Take those 9 away and their points go down to 18th most points. He hits the league avg they loose 4 FGs and go down to 16th in scoring

Game 1 - Moseley makes all his kicks including the game winner in overtime 37-34 victory
Game 4 - Moseley makes all his kicks in a 13-7 victory
Game 6 - Moseley makes all his kicks and accounts for all the scoring in a 12-7 victory
Game 7 - Moseley makes all his kicks and accounts for all the scoring in a 15-14 victory including 2 in the 4th quarter, one the game winner.

Marcus Allen, Dan Fouts, Ken Anderson, or Wes Chandler are others in the mix imo

[Brian wolf]

I dont know how Riggins had a bad season when he led the team all the way to the SB championship while being the MVP of the game? Yes, Moseley had a great year and Riggins took a while to get going but once the playoffs began --

Redskins 31 Lions 7 -- Riggins 119 yrds rushing
Redskins 21 Vikings 7 -- Riggins 185 yrds rushing TD
Redskins 31 Cowboys 17 -- Riggins 140 yrds rushing 2 TDs
Redskins 27 Dolphins 17 -- Riggins 166 yrds rushing TD MVP

I agree that Moseley was a strong contender for MVP but luckily, he never had to attempt any FG longer than 50 yards.

[conace21]

I dont know how Riggins had a bad season when he led the team all the way to the SB championship while being the MVP of the game? Yes, Moseley had a great year and Riggins took a while to get going but once the playoffs began --

Redskins 31 Lions 7 -- Riggins 119 yrds rushing
Redskins 21 Vikings 7 -- Riggins 185 yrds rushing TD
Redskins 31 Cowboys 17 -- Riggins 140 yrds rushing 2 TDs
Redskins 27 Dolphins 17 -- Riggins 166 yrds rushing TD MVP

I agree that Moseley was a strong contender for MVP but luckily, he never had to attempt any FG longer than 50 yards.

Riggins had a bad year in terms of his regular season performance (which of course is what the MVP award is based on.) His week 2 output is the only game that season when he gained 100 yards OR averaged 4 yards per carry (he did both.) He carried the ball a lot, but without much success.

The postseason was obviously a completely different animal. Riggins shined in the expanded playoffs, whereas Moseley went 2 of 6 on field goals in the NFL playoffs.

One note on Moseley winning the MVP award. He had an historic season kicking field goals, but he was the 2nd worst kicker in the league when it comes to extra points. He went 16 of 19 in the regular season. Life is strange sometimes.