In 2003, Priest Holmes scored 27 touchdowns - an NFL record at the time - for a 13-3 Chiefs team. He received 3 MVP votes.
Jamal Lewis ran for 2066 yards (2nd-most ever at the time) yards at a 5.34 per carry average with 14 TDs. Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright split time at quarterback as the team went 10-6. He got 5 MVP votes; teammate Ray Lewis at linebacker received 2.
Tom Brady passed for 3600 yards for an 85.9 passer rating. The Patriots finished 14-2 even though they felt short of averaging 22 points per game; their scoring defense led the league. He received 8 votes.
Steve McNair passed for 3200 yards with a passer rating of 100.4. He was 10-4 as as starter, meaning the team went 2-0 without him. He was co-MVP with 16 votes, along with...
Peyton Manning, who passed for over 4200 yards, leading the league, with a rating of 99.0 as the Colts went 12-4. Among his weapons were Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Edgerrin James.
Brady had no business in the MVP conversation except for the fabulous team record. McNair's numbers wouldn't put him in the conversation in today's game, but the 100 passer rating was much rarer in those days.
I think Jamal Lewis might win it today. The only members of the 2000 club who didn't win it were Chris Johnson, whose 2009 Titans didn't make the playoffs, and record-setter Eric Dickerson, whose 1983 season was overshadowed by Dan Marino's passing records.
Adrian Peterson won it in 2012. He ran for just 30 more yards than Lewis, and his team was limited to do inadequacy at quarterback.
On the other hand, only 4 running backs have been MVP this century. All of the others have been quarterbacks. Is there a bias in favor of quarterbacks?
There might be. It's possible voters look at cumulative player stats and cumulative team wins to select their MVP. As quarterback is the most important position, the vote would lean in that direction if the numbers are close.
But I'm going to do something different. I'll track player performance from Week 1 on to determine who earns the MVP. I'll look beyond the end-of-season stats and ask instead, who had the most good or great games?
My first results - the group of players who, if they kept it up, will be in the race for MVP - will be posted later this week, after the NFL games have been played. Stay tuned.
Jamal Lewis ran for 2066 yards (2nd-most ever at the time) yards at a 5.34 per carry average with 14 TDs. Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright split time at quarterback as the team went 10-6. He got 5 MVP votes; teammate Ray Lewis at linebacker received 2.
Tom Brady passed for 3600 yards for an 85.9 passer rating. The Patriots finished 14-2 even though they felt short of averaging 22 points per game; their scoring defense led the league. He received 8 votes.
Steve McNair passed for 3200 yards with a passer rating of 100.4. He was 10-4 as as starter, meaning the team went 2-0 without him. He was co-MVP with 16 votes, along with...
Peyton Manning, who passed for over 4200 yards, leading the league, with a rating of 99.0 as the Colts went 12-4. Among his weapons were Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Edgerrin James.
Brady had no business in the MVP conversation except for the fabulous team record. McNair's numbers wouldn't put him in the conversation in today's game, but the 100 passer rating was much rarer in those days.
I think Jamal Lewis might win it today. The only members of the 2000 club who didn't win it were Chris Johnson, whose 2009 Titans didn't make the playoffs, and record-setter Eric Dickerson, whose 1983 season was overshadowed by Dan Marino's passing records.
Adrian Peterson won it in 2012. He ran for just 30 more yards than Lewis, and his team was limited to do inadequacy at quarterback.
On the other hand, only 4 running backs have been MVP this century. All of the others have been quarterbacks. Is there a bias in favor of quarterbacks?
There might be. It's possible voters look at cumulative player stats and cumulative team wins to select their MVP. As quarterback is the most important position, the vote would lean in that direction if the numbers are close.
But I'm going to do something different. I'll track player performance from Week 1 on to determine who earns the MVP. I'll look beyond the end-of-season stats and ask instead, who had the most good or great games?
My first results - the group of players who, if they kept it up, will be in the race for MVP - will be posted later this week, after the NFL games have been played. Stay tuned.
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