Category: Awards

These would have been the MVP winners if you could only receive the award once

There are many NBA players with multiple MVP awards, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won six such accolades in his career, the most of any player ever. His lead there should be pretty safe, too, especially as LeBron James’ career continues to …

There are many NBA players with multiple MVP awards, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won six such accolades in his career, the most of any player ever. His lead there should be pretty safe, too, especially as LeBron James’ career continues to wind down. James has four in his own right.

But what if NBA players could only win the award once in their careers, as is the case with, for example, writers and the Literature Nobel prize.

We went back in time and looked up the MVP vote through the years to find out.

Check out the results below.

Jake Bates honored for his heroic 4th quarter vs. Texans

Lions kicker Jake Bates honored for his heroic 4th quarter vs. Texans as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Jake Bates made Detroit Lions history in the team’s Week 10 comeback win in Houston. Bates became the first kicker — on a franchise with a rich history of great kickers — to make two field goals of at least 50 yards in the fourth quarter of the same game. The second of those came from 52 yards as time expired and provided the winning margin.

His late-game heroics in the 26-23 win over the Texans earned Bates the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor. It’s the second of his career, after nailing a 44-yard game-winner against the Vikings in Minnesota.

Bates joins return specialist Kalif Raymond in winning the NFC Special Teams honor in the last month. Raymond picked up the honors in Detroit’s win over Tennessee.

Detroit Lions players keep racking up awards

Detroit Lions players keep racking up awards, with Kalif Raymond, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff all being honored this week

Clear off the mantles, because there is some fresh hardware that needs a home for a few Detroit Lions players.

In the wake of Detroit’s 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, the awards keep coming in for some Lions. Wideout Kalif Raymond earned the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his standout performance on punt returns.

He’s been joined by running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who did something no Lions player has ever done before. Gibbs captured the FedEx Ground Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.

But wait, there’s more!

Quarterback Jared Goff earned the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He’s the first Lions QB to ever win that honor.

 

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Kalif Raymond earns NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Kalif Raymond earns NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his return work vs. the Titans in Week 8

Congratulations are in order for Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond. Though Raymond caught a touchdown pass in Detroit’s 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, it’s his work on special teams that earned Raymond a spot in the record books.

Raymond was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his incredible returns on punts against Tennessee. No. 11 had the biggest day of punt returns in his career and one of the biggest in NFL history. Raymond netted 190 yards on five punt returns, including a thrilling 90-yard touchdowns return that came with Detroit’s starting defense on the field instead of his typical blocking unit.

Raymond very nearly ran three punts back for touchdowns. He got caught from behind on one return while setting up a final block inside the Titans’ 30-yard line, and another huge return was wiped out by a holding penalty. With his touchdown reception, Raymond became the first player in NFL history to score on a reception and a punt return in the same game.

These NBA All-Stars never received a single MVP vote

When it comes to breaking down the top players in the NBA on a year-to-year basis, there are tiers that must be followed.

There are reliable role players off the bench. There are the starters. There are All-Star level players. There are All-NBA guys.

And then there are the MVP candidates.

If you’ll notice, that means All-Stars and MVP-level performers are separated by two tiers. All-Star tier is good, but the dudes who receive MVP votes are simply on another plane of basketball existence.

Below, we take a look at All-Stars who never received a vote for MVP; there are some very familiar names on there.

Jake Bates wins NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Detroit Lions K Jake Bates wins NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winning field goal in Minnesota

Lions kicker Jake Bates calmly nailed the game-winning field goal in Minnesota with 15 seconds remaining to give Detroit a huge road win in Week 7. For his sterling effort, Bates was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

It’s the first time Bates has won the award. Then again, it’s just his sixth NFL game. The first-year kicker and former Michigan Panthers/UFL standout drained the 44-yarder under intense pressure and a hostile crowd for his only field goal of the game.

The honor comes one week after he was a perfect 9-for-9 on kicks, including four field goals and five extra points in Detroit’s Week 6 romp in Dallas.

Congrats to Bates!

Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs nominated for FedEx Air & Ground honors

Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs nominated for FedEx Air & Ground honors for Week 7 and you can help them to win

On the merits of a magnificent win in Minnesota, a pair of Detroit Lions are up for the weekly offensive honors around the NFL. Quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs are finalists for the FedEx Air and Ground players of the week for Week 7.

Goff completed 22 of his 25 pass attempts for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his first 15 pass attempts in the game. It’s the second week in a row Goff has been nominated for the FedEx Air Player of the Week.

Gibbs is nominated for the FedEx Ground honor for the first time in 2024. The second-year running back torched the Vikings for 116 rushing yards on 15 carries, scoring twice in Detroit’s 31-29 win over previously unbeaten Minnesota.

The awards are decided by fan voting. You can vote for Goff and Gibbs via the NFL’s website.

Brian Branch named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Brian Branch named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 6 performance against the Cowboys

For the second Detroit game in a row, a Lions player has earned the NFC Player of the Week honor for his performance in a win.

Brian Branch earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award from the NFL for his dominant play in Detroit’s 47-9 walloping of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. Branch picked off two passes and forced a fumble in the Lions huge win.

He joins Jared Goff, who captured the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor in the Week 4 win over Seattle. This is Branch’s first time being honored.

Jared Goff nominated for FedEx Air Player of the Week

Lions QB Jared Goff nominated for FedEx Air Player of the Week on his 30th birthday and you can help him win the award

A day after dismantling the Dallas Cowboys defense with three TD passes and nine successful scoring drives, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was nominated for the FedEx Air Player of the Week.

Goff, who is celebrating his 30th birthday on Monday, is one of three finalists for the weekly honor in Week 6. He devastated the Cowboys by completing 18 of his 25 attempts for 315 yards, with three touchdowns and a 153.8 passer rating.

All three finalists for Week 6 are from the NFC North, as Goff is up against Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Caleb Williams from the Bears. The winner is decided by fan voting, which you can do at NFL.com/FedEx.

Jared Goff wins NFC Offensive Player of the Week award

Jared Goff wins NFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his perfect game

Congratulations are in order for Jared Goff. The Lions quarterback earned the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his perfect performance on Monday Night Football.

Goff captured the weekly award for the first time this season and the sixth of his NFL career, which began in 2016 with the Rams. He last captured the honor in Week 6 a year ago in Detroit’s win over Tampa Bay.

Goff set the NFL record for most attempts without an incompletion in a single game, going 18-for-18 in leading the Lions to a 42-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks.