Whereas Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford and Jonathan Taylor have dominated league MVP discussions, former Saints Tremendous Bowl-winner and soon-to-be Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame quarterback Drew Brees talked about one other participant who definitely deserves consideration, too.
“There’s a whole lot of guys which might be taking part in some excellent soccer,” Brees mentioned throughout a one-on-one interview with CBS Sports activities. “Drake Maye, he is made enormous leaps from final 12 months. … Stafford is taking part in excellent.
“I take a look at what the Seattle Seahawks are doing proper now. You recognize, if [Jaxon Smith-Njigba] is not an MVP candidate, he is definitely Offensive Participant of the 12 months, proper? I believe these are some good names.”
Now in his third season in Seattle, Smith-Njigba is having fun with a breakout season for the Seahawks, who’re off to a shocking 7-2 begin underneath second-year coach Mike Macdonald. Smith-Njigba is at the moment main the NFL with 1,041 receiving yards and is on tempo to interrupt Calvin Johnson’s single-season document of 1,964.
Whereas he’s definitely deserving of consideration, Smith-Njigba does not have historical past on his aspect so far as successful league MVP. No receiver in league historical past has received the award, together with Jerry Rice, who did not win following the strike-shortened 1987 season regardless of catching 22 touchdowns in simply 12 video games. The award as a substitute went to then-Broncos quarterback John Elway.
Maybe coincidentally, the 12 months that Johnson set the single-receiving receiving document was additionally the final time a non-quarterback received league MVP. Within the 12 years since then-Vikings working again Adrian Peterson received MVP, a quarterback has received the award every year.
Talking of quarterbacks, Brees does not envision Stafford — who at 37 is having fun with arguably his most interesting season so far — or the 7-2 Rams slowing down anytime quickly. Brees feels that Stafford has a golden alternative to solidify his future standing as a future Corridor of Famer.
“I believe he nonetheless has some nice years forward of him,” Brees mentioned of Stafford, who earlier this season turned the ninth quarterback to achieve 400 landing passes and the tenth one to eclipse 60,000 passing yards. “It is actually only a matter of how lengthy he needs to play. He is in a spot now with some actually unimaginable expertise round him, a terrific head coach in Sean McVay and a terrific system that simply suits his strengths.
“He nonetheless has all the power on the earth,” Brees mentioned. “I discover that window between age 35 and 40-42-years-old is admittedly a possibility for a quarterback. That is nearly like getting into your prime. Take into consideration simply how a lot you perceive and know mentally, and in the event you’re nonetheless capable of do it bodily, then these might be a few of your best possible years.”
Brees is holding himself busy this fall. Along with holding an in depth eye on the NFL in his function as an analyst, Brees has teamed up with Abbott for his or her “We Give Blood Drive” a contest by way of their partnership with the Huge Ten to see which Huge Ten college can donate probably the most blood all through the school soccer season. The successful college, which will likely be introduced through the 2025 Uncover Huge Ten Soccer Championship Recreation on Dec. 6, will obtain $1 million from Abbott for scholar or group well being. There’s additionally the chance to earn a Huge Ten college shirt of your selection by giving blood.
“I believe a whole lot of us possibly simply do not acknowledge the influence that giving blood can do for our group and simply saving lives,” Brees mentioned. “One blood donation can save as much as three lives. … We’re really in a blood scarcity proper now as a rustic. It is type of unprecedented, possibly the worst considered one of our of our lifetime, and so we’re encouraging everyone to get out and provides blood.”
