Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year

Danno · 07-13-2014, 01:01 PM

Saints' Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year, and Here's Why | Bleacher Report

In the eyes of NFL players, New Orleans Saints safety and former Buffalo Bill Jairus Byrd wasn’t good enough to be one of the top 100 players of 2014. This is a snub by all accounts, and pundits such as NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling and The Times-Picayune’s Rachel Whittaker agree that Byrd should have made an appearance.

Luckily, Byrd’s ranking should skyrocket next year, with the 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in hand.

Wait, over J.J. Watt? Over Earl Thomas? Over Luke Kuechly, the award’s most recent winner?

Absolutely. The players above—along with many, many others not listed—will have a legitimate shot at snagging the award for themselves. However, when looking at the past Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year winners, there is a pattern of criteria that has been satisfied. Byrd is lining up perfectly with those requirements, more so than any player on the Top 100 list. And after signing a much-ballyhooed six year, $56 million contract with New Orleans, Byrd is in a great position to showcase his talents to fans outside of Buffalo.

Let’s break down the requirements for Defensive Player of the Year and how Byrd satisfies each one...

The Saints have much more defensive talent than people realize—the criminally underrated Keenan Lewis among them—but none of that talent is as valuable as Byrd.

SmashMouth · 07-13-2014, 02:03 PM

FinSaint · 07-13-2014, 02:48 PM

Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team.

|Mitch| · 07-13-2014, 02:55 PM

Just think of the possibilities with Byrd able to play single high safety effectively!

We possibly could be better than the Seahawks defense

Jack Vegas · 07-13-2014, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team.

Pretty good argument to have when you have 3 players on defense who are elite at their position (Jordan, Byrd, Lewis). I expect Akiem Hicks could be on that list very soon, too.

Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense.

exile · 07-13-2014, 05:24 PM

C'mon season!

jeanpierre · 07-13-2014, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team.

Originally Posted by Jack Vegas

Pretty good argument to have when you have 3 players on defense who are elite at their position (Jordan, Byrd, Lewis). I expect Akiem Hicks could be on that list very soon, too.

Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense.

Exactly, Saints will take votes away from each other...

Rugby Saint II · 07-13-2014, 07:30 PM

It's too early to just give it to him........make him earn it.

saintsfan1976 · 07-13-2014, 07:34 PM

Let's get him on the field first.

AliJee · 07-14-2014, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jack Vegas

Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense.

He who must not be named did have a magical season with us, I'm hoping Byrd betters that!

07-13-2014, 01:01 PM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Saints' Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year, and Here's Why \| Bleacher Report In the eyes of NFL players, New Orleans Saints safety and former Buffalo Bill Jairus Byrd wasn’t good enough to be one of the top 100 players of 2014. This is a snub by all accounts, and pundits such as NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling and The Times-Picayune’s Rachel Whittaker agree that Byrd should have made an appearance. Luckily, Byrd’s ranking should skyrocket next year, with the 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in hand. Wait, over J.J. Watt? Over Earl Thomas? Over Luke Kuechly, the award’s most recent winner? Absolutely. The players above—along with many, many others not listed—will have a legitimate shot at snagging the award for themselves. However, when looking at the past Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year winners, there is a pattern of criteria that has been satisfied. Byrd is lining up perfectly with those requirements, more so than any player on the Top 100 list. And after signing a much-ballyhooed six year, $56 million contract with New Orleans, Byrd is in a great position to showcase his talents to fans outside of Buffalo. Let’s break down the requirements for Defensive Player of the Year and how Byrd satisfies each one... The Saints have much more defensive talent than people realize—the criminally underrated Keenan Lewis among them—but none of that talent is as valuable as Byrd.

07-13-2014, 02:03 PM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,201 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year

07-13-2014, 02:48 PM	#3
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,961	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team.

07-13-2014, 02:55 PM	#4
\|Mitch\| 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alexandria, La Posts: 11,303	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Just think of the possibilities with Byrd able to play single high safety effectively! We possibly could be better than the Seahawks defense savoyk likes this.

07-13-2014, 04:49 PM	#5
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Originally Posted by FinSaint Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team. Pretty good argument to have when you have 3 players on defense who are elite at their position (Jordan, Byrd, Lewis). I expect Akiem Hicks could be on that list very soon, too. Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense.
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254

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07-13-2014, 05:24 PM	#6
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year C'mon season! K Major likes this.
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608

07-13-2014, 05:45 PM	#7
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Originally Posted by FinSaint Who knows, but Cam Jordan might have a say in the whole debate about who's the best defensive player of the team. Originally Posted by Jack Vegas Pretty good argument to have when you have 3 players on defense who are elite at their position (Jordan, Byrd, Lewis). I expect Akiem Hicks could be on that list very soon, too. Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense. Exactly, Saints will take votes away from each other...

07-13-2014, 07:30 PM	#8
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year It's too early to just give it to him........make him earn it.

07-13-2014, 07:34 PM	#9
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,846 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Let's get him on the field first.

07-14-2014, 01:05 AM	#10
AliJee 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Southern California Posts: 267	Re: Why Jairus Byrd Will Win Defensive Player of the Year Originally Posted by Jack Vegas Byrd might not end up being defensive MVP, but we have a true free safety on this team for the first time in 5 years and last time we had one it made a huge impact on the defense. He who must not be named did have a magical season with us, I'm hoping Byrd betters that!

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