New York Jets gamers voted to give the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award — named after Dennis Byrd, the defensive finish who was paralyzed during a 1992 game and had to relearn how to walk — to Aaron Rodgers, the man who tore his Achilles 4 snaps into Gang Inexperienced’s opener and vowed to return however didn’t.
Rodgers largely acquired the award for his comeback bid following Achilles surgical procedure on Sept. 13. He returned to observe simply two and a half months later however by no means appeared in a recreation. Rodgers later admitted on The Pat McAfee Present that “being medically cleared as 100% healed is simply not sensible.”
If that was the case, then what was this award even for? Byrd broke his vertebrae in a head-on collision throughout a November 1992 recreation. The defensive finish was left unable to stroll by the harm and went via in depth bodily remedy. Whereas he discovered to stroll once more, Byrd by no means performed one other down of soccer. His remaining achievement as a Jet was strolling onto the sphere for the coin toss of the 1993 residence opener.
Byrd’s No. 90 was formally retired by the Jets in 2012, though it was informally retired since his harm. He spent years after his harm touring the nation and telling his story as a motivational speaker. Byrd even despatched then-head coach Rex Ryan the jersey that was lower off Byrd’s physique the day of the accident throughout New York’s 2011 playoff run. Ryan was so honored that he had Byrd come and communicate to the crew the night time earlier than their highway playoff matchup in opposition to the New England Patriots. The Jets went on to upset the Patriots, 28-21 — the final Jets playoff victory.
Byrd’s story is inspirational. A monthslong effort to regain the flexibility to stroll, lower than a 12 months faraway from a paralyzing harm, is a feat worthy of an award’s namesake. He continued to encourage others till his passing in 2016.
It sullies that title to offer it to Rodgers, a person who appeared on community tv weekly – the identical present he picked fights with Dr. Anthony Fauci and made false Jimmy Kimmel-Jeffrey Epstein connections – to vow a comeback that by no means actually got here. The closest Rodgers got here to a comeback was making an interception as a scout-team linebacker in observe. Spectacular to do two months after Achilles surgical procedure, sure, however it does nothing to really assist the crew win.
It appears NYJ head coach Robert Saleh sees it in another way.
“I’ve mentioned it one million occasions, he loves his teammates and his teammates love him,” Saleh mentioned. “He’s so intentional with how he approaches everyone within the constructing. He’s very considerate in the best way he does issues, and he’s an incredible human. He’s rather well deserving of this award.”
