Thursday, February 9, 2023

Super Bowl "Best vs. Best": The 2023 NFL Honors

  • And we're off to a flying start...
The outfit is ugly, and the Michael Irvin jersey is BEYOND a bad look, with the incident still pending. But never let it be said the NFL is not completely blind and couldn't read a room if you gave it in book form!
  • And she's the HOST of this thing?  Lady, you were American Idol damn near a quarter century ago and you're probably at least ten past your prime.  OOF...
  • Well, I'm wrong on Patrick Mahomes winning the double.  However, at that point, the only player who then really made sense won AP Offensive Player of the Year -- here's a hint, it was the one non-quarterback:  Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings is AP Offensive Player of the Year.
  • The San Francisco 49ers had a league-defining defense this year, so it stands to reason that the 49ers' Nick Bosa is AP Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Before the ceremony tonight, his coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, won AP Assistant Coach of the Year.  And very well-deserved, for the same reason I said above.
  • This one is a surprise -- I thought Purdy was a LOCK for Offensive Rookie, but the award for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year goes to the New York Jets and Garrett Wilson.
  • The USAA Salute to Service Award was given to Ron Rivera, coach of the Washington Commanders.  The Walter Payton Man of the Year is a general service award, this one is specific to the partnership between the NFL and the United States military.  The other finalists were CIN TE Hayden Hurst and SF TE George Kittle.
  • Sauce Gardner won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, meaning the 2022-23 Jets are only the third team in NFL history to sweep both Rookies of the Year.  (2017 New Orleans:  Alvin Kamara (O) and Marshon Lattimore (D) and the first year of the defensive award, 1967 and the Detroit Lions:  Mel Farr (O) and Lem Barney (the first AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year))
  • Damar Hamlin was on the red carpet tonight.  Look for yourself and draw your conclusions:
I'm suspicious as Hell at this point.  Something is NOT right here.
  • Bud Light sponsored a celebration award, and the Cincinnati Bengals won it for a defensive celebration against Baltimore in Week 18.
  • Somewhat of an upset, IMODO, for AP Coach of the Year.  Not Jacksonville, but the New York Giants' Brian Daboll.  Not that Daboll wouldn't deserve it most years, but Jacksonville went from the #1 Draft Pick entering this season to the AFC South championship.
  • And the Jacksonville coach wasn't even second -- that went to Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers, and the vote was fairly close between them.  It has already been announced that, of all the AP awards tonight, that is the closest.
  • Federal Express sponsored Air and Ground Players of the Year awards:  Air went to Joe Burrow of the Bengals.  Ground went to Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders.
  • In a move which will not please right-wing NFL fans and supporters, the NFL gave a moment of tonight's ceremony to support Ukranian football players and a message from Ukranian President Zelenskyy.
  • Geno Smith of the Seahawks is AP Comeback Player of the Year -- with probably apologies to the Commanders' Brian Robinson, shot in the leg in late August, playing in early October.  The fact he was a rookie made him ineligible.
  • A Fan of the Year award was given, sponsored by Captain Morgan rum.  The winner is 12th Man Larry Bevans.  From Vancouver, WA, Bevans is a foster parent, and aids in Boxes of Hope, a charity which makes boxes for foster children of need.  That is one of four different charities Bevans is involved with, as well as (weather permitting, according to the Seahawks' announcement when he won the team award earlier) attending every game, home or road (even 2018 in London!)...  Community outreach and charity work is a large factor in the winner of the award, both team-by-team and league-wide.
  • Hamlin then took the stage.  After a speech, he was widely applauded.  I'm going to have a lot to say about this in my next post.   
  • And then, the 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Class
    • Darrell Revis
    • DeMarcus Ware
    • Joe Thomas
    • Ronde Barber
    • Joe Klecko gets in on the Veterans' designation
    • Zach Thomas
    • Ken Riley also gets in on the Veterans' designation
    • As does Chuck Howley -- so all three who had Veterans designation (25+ years since retirement) will see Canton.
    • As will the Coach nominee:  Don Coryell
  • And if that's the case, I don't see Devin Hester EVER getting in, even as the best punt and kick returner of all time.  There's barely a name above "Very Good" in that class, and that's now twice the Hall has left Hester wanting?   
  • To abject no surprise, Patrick Mahomes was named the AP NFL MVP -- his second in five seasons.  
  • George Kittle won the Head and Shoulders "Never Not Working" Protection Play of the Year for a staying-with-it juggling catch against the Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round.
  • Dak Prescott has won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for 2022-23.
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