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5 Things That Are Wrong With the NFL MVP Selection Process

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By @calling_allfans

NFL MVP Selection Process Has Some Faults

NFL MVP Process
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This Saturday, the night before Super Bowl XLIX, Seth Meyers will host the “NFL Honors” awards show. It will air on NBC at 9 p.m. ET and all awards will be for achievements and play during the regular season, not the playoffs. One of the honors that will be awarded is the AP NFL MVP. It’s always fun and entertaining to which players receive certain awards, but here are five things that are wrong with NFL MVP selection process.

5. QBs Win Too Much and Defensive Players Almost Never Win

NFL MVP Process
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

5. QBs Win Too Much and Defensive Players Almost Never Win

NFL MVP Process
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

This issue is at the forefront of the MVP discussion. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had an unbelievable season — 4,381 yards, 38 TDs and five INTs. Texans DE JJ Watt also had an amazing season — 78 combined tackles and 20.5 sacks, with an INT and five TDs (three on offense). You can’t argue with either, but Rodgers will probably be named the MVP. The last time a defensive player won the MVP was 1986 (Lawrence Taylor) while QBs have won 37 MVP awards.

4. If A Player’s Team Misses the Playoffs, It’s Almost Impossible To Win

NFL MVP Process
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

4. If A Player’s Team Misses the Playoffs, It’s Almost Impossible To Win

NFL MVP Process
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Rodgers will most likely be named the MVP instead of Watt. Much of that has to do with the issue addressed in the previous slide, but another bias is at play here too. Rodgers led the Packers to a 12-4 record, a division title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Watt’s Texans went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Both teams would have suffered without Rodgers or Watt, but Watt will be penalized because his team was not good enough to make the playoffs.

3. Players and Coaches Do Not Vote

NFL MVP Process
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Players and Coaches Do Not Vote

NFL MVP Process
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL MVP is voted on by 50 members of the media before the playoffs begin each season. Of course a number of the voters will be more than qualified to vote on the MVP. But is there a reason that people who are directly involved in the NFL (players and coaches) can’t count for at least a percentage of the MVP vote? Coaches and players truly know who the toughest players to compete against are and they should have a say.

2. The Number of Voters

NFL MVP Process
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

2. The Number of Voters

NFL MVP Process
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Each of the 50 media members is given one vote. They can either give a full vote to one player or split their vote between two. There are two issues with this. One: 50 votes is not nearly a large enough sample to the MVP. More people (hopefully players and coaches) must be given the opportunity to vote. Two: it’s an even number! It’s only happened twice, but there can be ties. There shouldn’t be any ties for MVP, ever. Make it an odd number.

1. There Is No Point System

NFL MVP Process
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

1. There Is No Point System

NFL MVP Process
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The number of voters needs to be increased and there needs to be an odd number of votes being cast so there are no ties. But the whole system should really be scrapped anyway. The NFL should take a page from the NBA’s book. The NBA’s MVP is determined by voters ranking their top five candidates on a 10-7-5-3-1 points system. That way of determining the MVP is far preferable to the NFL’s current method.

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