Tag: most valuable player

Will quarterback Russell Wilson be the Seahawks’ 2020 MVP?

Will quarterback Russell Wilson be the Seattle Seahawks 2020 MVP or will this be the year he finally earns the top spot around the league?

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson continues to have something to prove and he seems poised to make his case this season.

Around the NFL writer, Dan Hanzus, recently took a look at all 32 teams around the league in an effort to predict each club’s Most Valuable Player for 2020.

Russell Wilson was his easy choice for Seattle.

“OK, Wilson is already demonstrably great – he’s a Super Bowl-winning quarterback on a collision course with Canton,” Hanzus writes. “But it feels almost immoral that Schottenheimer’s run-obsessed offense created a reality where Russell Wilson threw the same number of passes as Mitch Trubisky last season. (They tied for 12th amongst QBs with 516 attempts … and Wilson played one more game!) Go back to 2018, and Wilson finished 20th in passing attempts. Egads.”

“In Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, Wilson has star-quality weapons to light it up on Sundays,” Hanzus continues. “He’ll put up stellar numbers worthy of league MVP consideration even if Seattle stays the course on offense. But just imagine if Pete Carroll ever let him chuck it around the yard at the rate of his fellow superstar passers.”

Wilson likely has loftier goals than just Seattle’s MVP . . . he’ll be playing for the top spot in the league in 2020.

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Why Seattle Seahawks must make the Super Bowl this season

NFL writer Adam Rank took a look at the state of the Seattle Seahawks franchise and thinks they must make the Super Bowl in the 2020 season.

Every team wants to get to the Super Bowl each year but some teams are more poised to make a legitimate run at the Lombardy Trophy than others.

NFL.com writer Adam Rank just published his “State of the Franchise” piece on the Seattle Seahawks, looking back at 2019 and ahead to 2020. One question he asked in the series is  . . . for 2020 to be a successful season, the Seahawks must . . .?

“Make the Super Bowl? Yes, make the Super Bowl! You really don’t want to pin a Super Bowl or bust label on the Seahawks,” Rank writes. “But they would be one of the few teams in the NFL where, if they don’t make it to the game’s biggest stage, it has to seem like a bitter disappointment. Russell Wilson is the best quarterback in the NFC, having established himself as an annual MVP candidate in recent years (whether people realize it or not). Bailing out in the Divisional Round is getting old.”

“And why stop at Championship Sunday? Rank continues. “Just last season, Seattle beat the 49ers, Rams and Eagles – the NFC’s last three Super Bowl reps. It’s time for Russ, Bobby and Pete to return to the promised land.”

Rank’s entire “State of the Franchise” was a fun piece to read – you can find the whole article here.

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Brian Schottenheimer explains why Seahawk Russell Wilson is underrated

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer believes he knows the reason quarterback Russell Wilson remains underrated.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will continue his campaign for this year’s Most Valuable Player despite constantly being overlooked for the honor.

Seahawks’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer recently explained why he thinks Wilson continues to be underrated around the league.

“Unless you truly love the Seahawks and watch the Seahawks, I think what he does just comes so naturally and easy that people underestimate him,” Schottenheimer told CBS Sports’ Will Brinson on the Pick Six Podcast. “I know one thing, I’m thrilled and excited about 2020 because I think the chatter about the MVP votes will motivate him. He is ready to work. He’s always ready to work, but he’s the wrong guy to doubt. He’s the wrong guy to say, ‘Nah, he can’t do that.’

“He will carry a grudge and he will work his ass off to make it go.”

And maybe all the chatter about who throws the best and worst deep ball in the NFL could provide the right challenge.

“It’s not a big secret that Russell Wilson’s an unbelievable deep-ball thrower,” Schottenheimer explained. “Again, I’ve been blessed to be around some great ones and he’s at the top of the list of guys that have that innate ability to add a little bit of air whenever he needs to or kind of take something off it when he needs to fit a ball in deep. He’s terrific at that.”

You can listen to the entire interview on the Pick Six Podcast below.

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Why fans should root for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson this season

Despite his impressive career, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has yet to receive recognition as the NFL’s most valuable player.

The Seattle Seahawks added a few new weapons this offseason to quarterback Russell Wilson’s arsenal via free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft. So will this finally be the year he will be recognized as the league’s Most Valuable Player?

NFL.com writer Adam Rank recently put together a piece highlighting one player from each NFL team to root for this season. His pick for the Seahawks is not a rookie or a new team member, it’s not even running back, Marshawn Lynch. Rank names Seattle’s signal-caller as the one he’ll love to watch in 2020.

“I know it seems weird that I would pick one of the most popular players in the NFL for this list. I get that,” Rank writes. “That said, Wilson is one of the most underappreciated players of his era. Most people would agree that he’s one of the most valuable players in the league. The Seahawks have struggled on the offensive line for what seems like years and it’s Wilson who has carried them. And yet, he’s never received a single MVP vote. Not one.”

Wilson has been steady throughout his career despite the many changes around him on the roster. Perhaps 2020 is finally the year Wilson gets the recognition he deserves.

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NFL Honors: Complete list of awards winners following 2019 season

A look at the complete list of NFL Honors awards winners following the 2019 season.

The night before the Super Bowl, the league announced the biggest awards of the year during the annual NFL Honors show.

Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson walked away with the coveted Most Valuable Player award by unanimous decision.

While Russell Wilson didn’t receive a single vote for the honor, Seattle’s wide receivers did get the nod for the Bud Light Celly of the Year for their “Bye Bye Bye” celebration dance.

Here’s a complete list of this year’s NFL Honors winners:

Pepsi Rookie of the Year: San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa

FedEx Air and Ground Players of the Year: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (Air), Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Ground)

AP Defensive Player of the Year: New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore

Salute To Service Award Presented by USAA: Former Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray

AP Offensive Player of the Year: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas

Anything But Ordinary Player of the Year presented by Microsoft Surface: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020: Safety Steve Atwater, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Edgerrin James and safety Troy Polamalu

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson

AP Comeback Player of the Year: Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill

AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman

Bridgestone Clutch Performance Play of the Year: Miami Dolphins’ “Mountaineer Shot”

Deacon Jones Award: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Shaquil Barrett

Bud Light Celly of the Year:  Seattle Seahawks wide receiving corps for NSYNC “Bye Bye Bye” celebration dance

Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award: Matt Land, Dalton High School

Courtyard Unstoppable Performance of the Year: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes vs. Raiders Week 2

AP Coach of the Year: Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh

Daily Fantasy Player of the Year presented by Draft Kings: Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey

AP Most Valuable Player: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide: Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell

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Russell Wilson receives no NFL MVP votes, Lamar Jackson gets all 50

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson received no MVP votes as all 50 of them went to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Before Super Bowl LIV, the NFL end-of-season awards were announced during the NFL Honors show. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson received all 50 votes for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, becoming only the second unanimous MVP in NFL history, joining Tom Brady after his 2010-11 campaign.

This means that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson did not receive a single vote for MVP. Wilson had a solid season, throwing for 4,110 yards, 31 touchdowns, five interceptions and a passer rating of 106.3. However, Jackson did things that were unprecedented in the NFL, breaking numerous all-time records. He led the league in touchdown passes with 36 and most notably set the NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,206.

Some would argue that the Seahawks would have struggled immensely throughout the 2019 season without Wilson, while Jackson had 11 Pro Bowlers beside him in Baltimore. However, Jackson took the NFL by storm and Wilson had a four-game stretch where he threw an interception per game which likely contributed to his ousting from the MVP race by year’s end.

Wilson had one of his best seasons in the prime of his career, but the NFL MVP award still eludes him. However, Wilson prioritizes winning above all else, and he will continue to do so heading into the 2020 season.

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2020 NFL Honors: TV time, channel and full list of awards

The NFL Honors – the league’s annual awards show – will take place this Saturday, Feb. 1, the night before the Superbowl.

The NFL Honors – the league’s annual awards show – will take place this Saturday, Feb. 1, the night before the Superbowl.

The two-hour special will be taped earlier in the day at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami and will air at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

Highlights from the show will include the introduction of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class and The Associated Press’ annual awards presentation.

Here’s a full listing of the awards that will be given out Saturday night:

AP Most Valuable Player presented by Pizza Hut
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide
AP Coach of the Year
AP Comeback Player of the Year presented by Castrol EDGE
AP Offensive Player of the Year
AP Defensive Player of the Year
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year presented by Oakley
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Bridgestone Clutch Performance Play of the Year
FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
Salute To Service Award presented by USAA
Courtyard Unstoppable Performance of the Year
Deacon Jones Award
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
Don Shula High School Coach of the Year
AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Game Changer Award
Anything But Ordinary Player of the Year presented by Microsoft Surface
Bud Light Celly of the Year
Daily Fantasy Player of the Year presented by DraftKings

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Seahawks QB Russell Wilson named MVP by Pro Football Focus

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had the highest WAR in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus’ new metric.

While the NFL has yet to release its award winners, Pro Football Focus has already crowned their MVP – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

PFF recently created a WAR (wins above replacement) metric, which allows comparison between all players and determines who was the most valuable to their team.

Wilson was the 2019 WAR leader in a landslide, accruing a WAR of 4.08 – making him roughly four wins better than a replacement-level quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes finished second with a WAR of 2.96, followed by Dak Prescott (2.40) Aaron Rodgers (2.38) and Lamar Jackson (2.29).

Wilson had the highest grade (91.2) of any quarterback in the league as well, and of course, finished with an excellent 31-to-five touchdown-to-interception ratio while leading the Seahawks to an 11-5 record.

While most believe the MVP award will go to Jackson, PFF explains why their calculations paint Wilson as the far more valuable player.

“While Jackson had an entire offense built around his strengths and had a coaching staff that embraced analytics to extend drives and steal fine winning margins, Wilson was dealing with a situation that consistently put him behind the eight ball then asked him to dig the team out of a hole,” PFF writer Sam Monson wrote. “The fact that he was able to do just that as consistently as he did only stands testament to his MVP-caliber season.”

The NFL will announce the MVP winner on February 1.

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Chad Ochocinco endorses Michael Thomas for NFL MVP

Debates are raging on who should be the NFL’s Most Valuable Player but Chad Ochocinco says New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas has his vote

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It’s tough to decide who deserves recognition as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player this year. Second-year Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been sensational, giving the AFC another young passer to challenge the New England Patriots hegemony (Tom Brady’s team has represented the AFC in 4 of the last 5 Super Bowl matchups). But he’s hardly without competition, with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson expanding his highlight reel every week in an offense built to minimize his impact.

However, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, also known as “Ochocinco,” wants to remind everyone that the award goes to the league’s Most Valuable Player, not just the best quarterback. And in his eyes, only one player is worth considering: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Johnson advocated for Thomas on his official Twitter account, praising the Saints’ centerpiece for his consistency in spite of defenses scheming to stop him each and every week:

His past antics aside (like that time Johnson awarded himself his own Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket), Johnson has a point. Thomas is on pace to shatter the record for single-season receptions set by Marvin Harrison, and he’s put up rare efficiency for any receiver, much less someone who sees as high a volume of targets.

There have been games where Thomas was the only Saints player open or able to make a play, and the ball has found him whether Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, or Taysom Hill were at quarterback. He’s certainly the Saints’ team MVP; the question, then, is whether the NFL’s voters will give him the respect he’s earned.

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Seahawks are No. 2 in Touchdown Wire’s future QB rankings

With Russell Wilson at the helm, the Seattle Seahawks rank second-best in Touchdown Wire’s future quarterback rankings.

The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now in Russell Wilson, but how will they fare in the near future?

Touchdown Wire took a look at the quarterback situations for all 32 NFL teams to produce rankings of all of the teams’ outlooks. To determine the results, a “blue-ribbon panel” of one former head coach, two former general managers and one current general manager were consulted on their opinions.

Writes Pat Yasinskas:

Russell Wilson might be playing better than any other quarterback in the league right now. And it might be the same case in 2023, the last year of his current contract. He’ll turn 35 that year, but still could be playing in his prime. Wilson is having an MVP-type season this year. His backup is Geno Smith at the moment, but Smith is only under contract for this year. It doesn’t matter all that much, because Wilson has been durable.

With Wilson at the helm, Touchdown Wire determined the Seahawks ranked second-best in the league. Only the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes were higher.

Yasinskas continues:

One of our panelists called Wilson a transcendent talent, (“He showed you don’t have to be 6-foot-4 to play quarterback in the NFL, and that’s opened the doors for guys like Kyler Murray.”) The Seahawks aren’t going to let Wilson go anywhere. Barring injury, he’ll sign at least one more contract extension in Seattle.

You can find Touchdown Wire’s entire future quarterback rankings here.

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