NFL MVP: Why Rob Gronkowski Absolutely Deserves to Win

First, off, I'll preface this article by stating that there is almost zero chance that New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will win the award as the National Football League's Most Valuable Player for 2011 because since the Associated Press began awarding the honor in 1957 a grand total of, well, zero tight ends have won MVP.

Nor do I intend to bore you with the dead horse debate of what constitutes "Most Valuable" or rant about the award (much like the Heisman Trophy) usually going to the best player on the best team or the fact that it might as well be called the MVQ award since eight of the last 10 MVPs have been quarterbacks.

This also isn't to say that Green Bay signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, with his 45-to-6 touchdown to interception ratio, quarterback Drew Brees and his NFL record 5,476 passing yards, or Tom Brady, who joins Jon Elway as the only quarterbacks to start in five Super Bowls when his New England Patriots face the New York Giants Sunday, didn't all have fantastic seasons and aren't all worthy candidates for the award.

However, Gronkowski had a tight end season for the ages in 2011, reeling in 90 passes for 1,327 yards. Furthermore, his 17 touchdown catches for the season were an NFL record for a player at his position.

Those numbers were good for fifth, sixth and first respectively in the National Football League, not just among tight ends but among all pass catchers. Also, in two short seasons Gronkowski has emerged as not only the best player in the National Football League at his position but also as a nearly unstoppable force in the red zone for the Patriots.

If one has any questions about "Gronk's" value to the Patriots you need look no farther than the second year pro's gimpy ankle, which has been one of the dominant story lines in Indianapolis. It could also prove to be one of the keys of the game in Super Bowl XVLI should the sprained ankle sideline or significantly hinder Gronkowski and, in turn, the New England offense.

The fact of the matter is that the National Football League's Most Valuable Player award is usually given to the player who the esteemed sports witers of the Associated Press believe had the best season.

Rob Gronkowski just had arguably the greatest season any tight end has ever had (with all due respect to New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who had quite the year himself), and it's time for the AP to buck the quarterback trend, shake things up a bit, and let another position have its day in the sun.

There are other positions, you know.