The NFL Honors acknowledged a number of excellent athletes on Thursday evening, handing out yearly awards to the very best of the very best. Nevertheless, that wasn’t essentially the case for each award.
Browns DE Myles Garrett was named the 2023 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months and one stat proves the Related Press bought it unsuitable.
Garrett is the primary participant to ever win DPOY in a 12 months the place he recorded one or fewer sacks over their final six video games since sacks turned an official stat in 1982, in accordance with TheScore’s Daniel Valente.
This is not to say Garrett’s 2023 marketing campaign wasn’t spectacular as he totaled 42 tackles, 14 sacks, 4 pressured fumbles, one fumble restoration and three passes defended. However his AFC North division rival, Steelers LB T.J. Watt, ought to have been the one on stage receiving the award Thursday evening.
Watt not solely had extra tackles (68), sacks (19), passes defensed (eight), interceptions (one), fumble recoveries (three) and touchdowns (one) than Garrett, however the 2019 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months registered extra sacks within the third quarter in Week 18 alone (two) than Garrett did within the remaining six weeks of the season (one).
Not solely was Watt snubbed of the award, however eight AP voters reportedly didn’t even have him of their prime three finalists both.
So, Watt determined to “play hooky” from the ceremony after changing into conscious he got here up wanting profitable the award as soon as once more earlier than it was formally introduced.
The All-Professional linebacker expressed his frustrations, posting, “Nothing I’m not used to,” on platform X.
The final time Watt got here up wanting profitable Defensive Participant of the 12 months, he adopted it up by tying Michael Strahan’s single-season sack report (22.5). So, offenses ought to beware as Watt will look to get his revenge in 2024 and win his second such award, which he ought to have gained this 12 months.