Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Year Snub Aaron Donald, Other Pro Bowlers As Nominees

Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zach Martin (70) on the sidelines against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

At this point in the year, there are essentially only two groups of people left in the NFL: Those hunting for the Lombardi Trophy and those focused on the NFL Draft. With so many events sprinkled throughout the next couple of months, there are few that can shift everyone’s attention to one common theme. One of those rarities is the announcement of the “yearly” awards, where the most valuable players and most compelling stories bring all fans together for one day.

While the MVP and “…Player of the Year” awards will take most of the attention, many others will have their gaze firmly set on the balloting for the “…Rookie of the Year” trophies. The most nationally recognized honors are handed out by the Associated Press, who names both an Offensive and Defensive player for their award, as does the Professional Football Writers of America. However, the NFL sponsored award, deemed the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, does not differentiate between the two sides of the football.

To some extent, this is a welcome relief, in a new age where seemingly everyone gets an award, even if for merely participating. However, naturally, few awards equals fewer nominees, meaning that there will inevitably be some snubs from the ballot.

There were three rookies this season that made the Pro Bowl, including Baltimore inside linebacker, C.J. Mosley, Dallas guard, Zach Martin, and St. Louis defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.  In fact, all three of those players received AP All-Pro votes, with Martin actually making the cut for the 1st-Team roster. So, on a ballot that only includes five players, the three All-Pro caliber players would surely make the cut, right?

Wrong.

In fact, none of those three players are on the ballot, with the NFL opting to list five offensive players instead. Odell Beckham, Jr. is the most deserving of the bunch, as someone who had a strong case for the Pro Bowl and is a near shoe-in for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jeremy Hill also has a decent case, finishing Top 10 among running backs in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns this season. However, the rest of the list is filled with rookies who were middle-of-the-pack at their position, including Sammy Watkins, Teddy Bridgewater, and Mike Evans.

No one is suggesting that any of those players had a “bad year.” In fact, both Watkins and Evans finished around the 1,000 receiving yard mark on the year, while Bridgewater nearly notched 3,000 yards passing with a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio. Moreover, it isn’t difficult to understand why an offensive lineman might not make the list, even if he is all AP 1st-Team All-Pro player.

However, it is somewhat odd for them to disregard some of the elite rookie defensive performances:

Aaron Donald, for example, ranked 2nd overall among interior defensive linemen in sacks, 3rd in defensive stops, and was Top 10, at least,  in nearly every other category. He was also graded as the No.1 interior defensive lineman in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Donald’s numbers are very similar to Ndamukong Suh in his rookie year, when the fearsome defensive tackle beat out Sam Bradford for their Rookie of the Year award. In fact, Donald managed more total pressures and only two fewer sacks in 250 fewer defensive snaps.

C.J. Mosley finished Top 10 in league in tackles, tied for the most interceptions among inside linebackers, Top 5 in quarterback pressures, and ranking 2nd in defensive stops.

Even Khalil Mack has a more impressive rookie resume than some of those offensive players, included grading out tops among outside linebacker, according to Pro Football Focus. Mack would finish the year trailing only Von Miller at his 4-3 designation in pressures, as well as ranking Top 10 in defensive stops.

While we certainly do not want to take anything away from those offensive players’ performances, the fact that none of the three Pro Bowl rookies are even on the ballot seems odd, at best, and idiotic, at worst. Fan voting has already turned most of the once-honorable awards and designations into mere popularity contests. It would be a shame if the regular season awards went in the same direction.

It looks like it might be too late…