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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was named the AP 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday. Leading up to the award, many believed that it would be very close and that other players like Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and Tennessee Titans receiver A.J. Brown should win the award.
The voting wasn’t close. He received more than half of the 50 votes and more than double the second-place vote-getter.
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting:
Kyler Murray, QB, #Cardinals 26 1/2
Josh Jacobs, RB, #Raiders 13
A.J. Brown, WR, #Titans 9 1/2
Miles Sanders, RB, #Eagles 1— Anthony Galaviz (@agalaviz_TheBee) February 1, 2020
Jacobs received the second-most votes but it was only 13.
Murray become only the second rookie quarterback to ever pass for more than 3,500 yards and rush for more than 500. The other was Cam Newton, who also won rookie of the year honors.
Voters clearly understood that Murray was operating under a different set of standards as a quarterback. He was the No. 1 pick and was the starter from the beginning. He carried the burden of extremely high expectations and met or exceeded all of them.
Jacobs had a very good season, rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games, but Murray started every game, had 20 touchdown passes and four more rushing. He only threw 12 interceptions and led the Cardinals to great improvement.
Murray is the future of the franchise and was honored as such. He should have been the winner and the writers who voted got it right.
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Ep. 256
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Ep. 255
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