RGIII Wants Some Viking Energy in MVP Conversation
Dustin Baker
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Seven weeks ago, former Washington Commanders quarterback turned NFL analyst Robert Griffin III tweeted, “The Vikings are the least talked about 7-1 team in the history of the NFL.”
The social media post was interesting as Griffin was a sort-of critic of Minnesota Vikings quarterback — and former teammate — Kirk Cousins before the 2022 regular season. After the 2021 NFL Draft, Griffin stated about Cousins, “As you’ve seen, Cousins has been collecting checks there in Minnesota for a long time, taking them to 8-8, 9-7 seasons. If he has a bad start to the year like he did last year, I could see the fans and maybe the organization (Vikings) leaning toward [Kellen] Mond if he comes in and impresses.”
Mond did not impress — at all — and Griffin’s prophecy about the Cleveland Browns QB3 fell flat. Really flat.
RGIII Wants Some Viking Energy in MVP Conversation
But Griffin has undergone an about-face regarding the Vikings and is now endorsing wide receiver Justin Jefferson as an honest-to-goodness member of MVP chats. Griffin tweeted Wednesday, “The NFL MVP SHOULDN’T just be a QB Award. The discussion revolves around the best QBs on the best teams, but when guys are having a SPECIAL YEAR like Justin Jefferson and Nick Bosa, they have EARNED THE RIGHT to be in the conversation. @JJettas2.”
Jefferson is closing on a few impressive feats in 2022 — the NFL receiving yards crown over Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs, a possible 2,000-yard season, and the NFL record for receiving yards in a season. Calvin Johnson holds the existing record, and Jefferson needs 122 yards per game in the next two weeks to shatter history.
And Griffin has apparently taken notice. The NFL never allots MVP attention to wide receivers, and it’s a mini-miracle if any non-quarterback gets any MVP love. The last non-quarterback to take home the league’s most prestigious trophy was — you guessed it — a former Viking named Adrian Peterson. That was precisely 10 years ago.
Jefferson, meanwhile, is the lifeblood of the Vikings offense, as Minnesota shifted from a run-first enterprise from 2014-2021 to pass-happiness courtesy of a new coach in Kevin O’Connell. Now, the Vikings run the ball near the bottom of the league per frequency and pass the damn thing all over the place. Why? Because that’s what a modern-brained coaching staff does with a talent like Jefferson.
Through 15 games, Jefferson has tabulated 123 receptions, 1,756 receiving yards, and 9 total touchdowns. If he continues his current pace, he’d fall short of 2,000 yards by 10. Moreover, the receptions mark and yards total smashed the Vikings team record last weekend when Jefferson toppled Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss for receptions and yards, respectively.
Jefferson is a longshot to win the MVP award on the whole. The hardware is all but certain to land in Kansas City in Patrick Mahomes’ hands — and few will argue against his candidacy. Yet, according to Griffin’s musings, the NFL should expand its horizons for MVP voting. Otherwise, the MVP award is the “Best Quarterback” achievement.
The Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday as Jefferson’s multifaceted quest for history continues.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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