NFL MVP: 4 Non-Quarterbacks Who Deserved Votes

Just like DNA, numbers don't lie—especially in the world of sports. The players who put up the biggest numbers on offense were rewarded for their efforts last night at the NFL Awards Show.

Unfortunately, the voters and the NFL may have missed the mark on who should and should not have received votes for the league's most important hardware.

While there were some outstanding performances this season by a handful of passers in the league, there were other players who deserved just as much attention and votes for the best player in the league this past season.

In some cases, being on a losing team did not help their cause. And there are some (defensive players) who did not get a look because style points are more important in this day and age.

Here is a look at five players who really deserved some recognition for their efforts.

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

He and Aaron Hernandez proved to be the two best tight ends in the AFC. And they both played on the same team.

"Gronk" set records for a tight end this season, scoring 17 times and catching 90 passes while using his huge frame and speed to expose defenses.

Having Tom Brady to throw him the ball helps quite a bit, but there is more to it than that. Gronkowski is just that good.

When you are 6'6" and 265 pounds and run like a freight train, you command a lot of attention. Had the NFL looked his way, they would have seen a player who redefined his position this year.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

When you have over 2,000 combined yards in rushing and receiving on the season, your quarterback played erratically all season and you were the major reason your offense moved the ball up and down the field, you should get some attention.

Ray Rice is one of the best versatile backs in the league and, at 27 years old, is in his prime. Who knows what he can accomplish on this team, but with the mighty-mite running and the Ravens defense still dangerous, it is a good bet this team could challenge for another spot in the playoffs next season.

Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

Do you have to be Lawrence Taylor to win an MVP award from the defensive side of the ball?

Jared Allen was the best defensive player this season. While Terrell Suggs may have had a great season, Allen is the one who established himself as the best at his position.

Allen had 66 tackles and four forced fumbles to go along with his 22 sacks. All of this on a 3-13 team.

Allen deserved some attention when talking about the best this season. If Maurice Jones-Drew was the most valuable to his team, then Allen was the most valuable to his.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

He is the true meaning of a great player playing on a bad team.

Was there another bright spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars other than Jones-Drew catching balls out of the backfield or running over and through defenses week after week?

Jones-Drew was so important to the Jaguars offense that he accounted for over 46 percent of it. There was no passing game to speak of and the quarterback play looked more like a high school team trying to break even.

If the Jaguars had finished 11-5 instead of 5-11 and the former UCLA star had more weapons around him, he could have won this award by a landslide.