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 obtained the award for his comeback bid following Achilles surgical procedure on Sept. 13. He returned to follow 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 percent healed is just not realistic.”
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 damage and went by way of intensive bodily remedy. Whereas he discovered to stroll once more, Byrd by no means performed one other down of soccer. His last achievement as a Jet was strolling onto the sector for the coin toss of the 1993 dwelling opener.
Byrd’s No. 90 was formally retired by the Jets in 2012, though it was informally retired since his damage. He spent years after his damage touring the nation and telling his story as a motivational speaker. Byrd even despatched then-head coach Rex Ryan the jersey that was reduce 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 converse to the workforce the night time earlier than their street 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 power to stroll, lower than a yr faraway from a paralyzing damage, is a feat worthy of an award’s namesake. He continued to encourage others till his passing in 2016.
It sullies that identify to provide 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 follow. Spectacular to do two months after Achilles surgical procedure, sure, but it surely does nothing to truly assist the workforce win.
It appears NYJ head coach Robert Saleh sees it in a different way.
“I’ve said it a million times, he loves his teammates and his teammates love him,” Saleh mentioned. “He’s so intentional with how he approaches everybody in the building. He’s very thoughtful in the way he does things, and he’s a tremendous human. He’s really well deserving of this award.”
