Has Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater done enough to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award?
Yes, says ESPN’s KC Joyner, who cites New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as Bridgewater’s strongest challenger for the award.
“The OROY case for Beckham is very strong, as his numbers can match up on a per-game basis with just about any wideout in the NFL, but Bridgewater’s numbers can go toe-to-toe with the top quarterbacks in the league. Quarterback value trumps wide receiver value, and thus Bridgewater’s OROY candidacy is stronger.”
Beckham has put together a marvelous season for the New York Giants. The New York Post says Beckham’s season is comparable to the 1998 rookie campaign of former Viking great Randy Moss.
Slow down a second… Beckham is equal to Moss? In what world?
As it turns out, the New York Post is spot on, because Moss says so.
“I’d have to (vote for Beckham),’’ Moss said this week. “The reason why I’d have to vote for Beckham is because when he missed those four games — we were just talking and about a number of different guys — when he came back, he’s been all the league has talked about as far as a rookie. You just can’t keep his name out of your mouth.
“For him to come in after missing four games and then coming in and finishing the way he has finished: the yards, the touchdowns, man, hands down he is the guy.”
Beckham enters Week 17 with 79 receptions for 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 scores are the most by a rookie in his first 11 games, the Post says. Moss holds the wide receiver rookie record with 17 touchdowns.
Bridgewater has 13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. But he’s been one of the league’s top quarterbacks over the past month.
https://twitter.com/GoesslingESPN/status/547276329792860161
If Beckham wins the award it will still be a win for Minnesota. His mother was a track star at Windom High School, where she went on to run track for a year at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Louisiana State University.
1500 ESPN’s “Purple Podcast” team is in agreement that Bridgewater has done more than enough to win the award, but it probably won’t matter because Beckham has stolen the hearts of the NFL with his incredible ability, specifically his three-fingered catch for a touchdown on Sunday Night Football.
