Dawgs By Nature
After another historic Myles Garrett performance, where he had four sacks and broke an NFL record to be the first player in NFL history with 12 sacks in six straight seasons, his chances of winning Defensive Player of the Year have increased. Carson Schwesinger also had a great performance against the Baltimore Ravens that included an interception. His odds of winning Defensive Rookie of the Year continue to rise, and he has earned the respect of national media members across the league.
The Cleveland Browns still only have two wins this season and are not headed in a positive direction. These historic defensive performances, in contrast to the team’s overall struggles, are difficult to watch. It begs the question whether players should win these honors if they aren’t elevating their organization to a winning status.
The NFL awards are individual honors to recognize excellence, so it is valid to celebrate these performances. Given the many factors that contribute to a team’s losses, including coaching issues and injuries, it is unreasonable to assign full responsibility for outcomes to any one player. A single exceptional player cannot compensate for all the other problems a team is having. Regardless of how the Browns’ season ends, these players deserve to be honored for their greatness on the field each week.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Should Browns players win NFL awards when the team isn’t winning games?
