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Brian Baldinger joins Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold on Inside The Huddle to discuss whether he should be Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers winning a league MVP in 2020?
Brian Baldinger joins Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold on Inside The Huddle to discuss whether he should be Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers winning a league MVP in 2020?
Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers; who is in the lead for the league MVP award in the 2020 NFL season?
With just three action weekends left in the regular season, this was the debate – along with Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year – on the latest episode of Inside The Huddle, which you can listen to in the podcast player below.
Former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger teamed up with Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold to take a closer look at the contestants for each award …
MVP Contenders
Reynolds: “I feel this race has been debated from Week Three onwards; Russell Wilson was strong in the mix, but he seems to be retiring a bit now.
“Aaron Rodgers has talked this week about what it would mean for him to win a third MVP. Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown and Peyton Manning are the only other winners of three.
“I feel like Rodgers is quietly going about his business, but Patrick Mahomes is getting a lot more of our attention – he’s probably the hottest primary school on the run. last month.
“And, representing the neo-quarterbacks is Derrick Henry.”
Could Derrick Henry be the first run back to be named MVP by Adrian Peterson in 2012?
Baldinger: “I think it’s close, but right now I think Rodgers has taken a small step above Mahomes. He’s thrown fewer (four) ideas, more rounds (39) and his team is going.
“It’s very neck and neck right now between Mahomes and Rodgers; Mahomes could face the New Orleans Saints this weekend to the top, but I think it will be ready for the end of shots between the those two players.
“What has separated Mahomes and Rodgers from Wilson is just how well they take care of the cake of football.”
Reinebold: “For me, it ‘s like wanting a ribeye or flank steak? You can’t go wrong.
“But for me, I continue to stick with Rodgers because he has been without some of his key weapons throughout the season and will not give up his game.
“He doesn’t have such a complete team around and, yet, they are playing extremely well. He has won another division competition and I just think he is the best player in football.
“I like Mahomes, he’s young, dynamic and he’s against the NFL now, but I still believe Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league.”
Rookie Candidates of the Year
Reynolds: “When it comes to voting at the end of the season, you will have the offensive rookie of the year and a defender, but we have given them all a lump here.
Justin Herbert averages 288.9 passing yards per game (right as he did on Dec. 17 recording), the best for a rookie in NFL history. Are you No. 1 or are you looking somewhere else? “
Reinebold: “The performance against the New England Patriots [a 45-0 loss] it hurt. Remember, this is Bill Belichick, who has an amazing record against rookie quarterbacks, but he looked upset and anything but rookie of the year.
“To me, you look at Chase Chase ‘s work, it’s unbelievable! I’ve been breaking it down for last Sunday’s show and Khalil Mack is the only one I’ve ever seen coming into the league with that kind of step… He’s a very active player. “
0:50 After getting a fumble back, Chase Young ran 47 yards for a sailboat as Washington defeated San Francisco last Sunday.
Baldinger: “Young is getting better and better. There’s no one else who moves like him, not at that level. He’s mobile, graceful and there’s no crack he can’t get through.
“He plays the game really hard and he plays with a lot more sensitivity – he knows what’s going on around him.
“He’s not trying to do every single game, but last week’s scoop and score [against the San Francisco 49ers], it just takes everyone out to the endzone.
“When I look at Rookie of the Year, I want one that elevates everyone around him. Young clearly, for me, it elevates everyone around him, just like Nick did. Bosa in San Francisco a year ago. “
Coach Candidate of the Year
Reynolds: “Great work has been done around the league; Washington head coach Ron Rivera has won the winners of the four-straight games; Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills are one win away from the first division title in 25 years; Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers are consistent, Sean Payton has continued to win even with Drew Brees on the sidelines, Kevin Stefanski is on the Cleveland Browns on course for the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and of course Andy Reid has the highest team in the league in Kansas.A City Leaders.
“I also make the case that Brian Flores should be added to the mix. When you look at what he ‘s done with that Miami Dolphins team.”
Baldinger: “I think they should add to it too [New York Giants head coach] Joe Judge on that list.
“But when you look at what Rivera is doing, with a quarterback in Alex Smith who is just coming off with 17 surgeries, and having acquired an ugly culture in Washington – there was a big mess to cleansing and culture of loss.
“Then in mid – August he was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment. But if you look at the way that team is playing, if they win this NFC East – although whatever the record – for me, Rivera should be Coach of the Year.
Washington head coach Ron Rivera had to face cancer in his first season under his leadership (Credit: Inova)
Reinebold: “I agree with Baldy 100 per cent. He’s bigger than the games he’s won, the impact he’s had in his first year. It took Flores two years to get to the record. this situation, and he had many of the same issues.
“However, you have to go back to 1990 for the last time Coach of the Year was awarded to a man who didn’t make the playoffs, and that was Jimmy Johnson in Dallas, so if they don’t reach the playoffs, if that could be too much for him [Rivera].
“LaFleur is the guy on that list who is under the radar, and it looks like he’s because of his quarterback [Rodgers] in his person so great. “
8:23 Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson joins Inside The Huddle to take a look back at his stormy NFL career.
Also on the latest episode of Inside The Huddle:
– Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson joins the show to take a look back at his stormy NFL career, including his Super Bowl-winning run with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000
– A look back at an exciting Monday Night Football matchup from Week 14 played out between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns
– Las Vegas Raiders decide to fire their defensive coordinator Paul Guenther
– A preview of this Sunday’s NFL triple – Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Football Team, Kansas City Chiefs @ New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns @ New York Giants – live on Sky Sports NFL
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