NFL: 25 wide receivers that should have been league MVP
By Nick Villano
![(Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport) (Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f2bc0cfe08a1b2dd16105ba5eec40a6558290638be1ffbfcf0a8877129aad2c7.jpg)
NFL wide receivers that should have been league MVP: 6. Sterling Sharpe, 1994
Sterling Sharpe, like many receivers in the 80s and 90s, did not get the credit he deserved for his impact on the field. Most people were focusing on the impact of the quarterback as the league slowly transitioned to a passing league. Still, there were some great receivers that helped dawn an era of Dan Marino, John Elway, Joe Montana, and Brett Favre. The latter of which had Sterling Sharpe catching passes for him.
This season is kind of sad. It was Sharpe’s best season, but it was also his last season. Let’s get into the positive first. He was in the midst of an insane stretch with Favre as his quarterback. It ended in 1994 with a 94 catch season for more than 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was always near the end zone, and Favre knew that when he needed to go for the goal line, Sharpe is the man to target.
Sharpe’s biggest game possibly of his career came against the superstar-laden Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving of that season. He had nine catches for 122 yards and four receiving touchdowns. The Packers still somehow lost the game, but besides one field goal, Sharpe accounted for all of the points on the Green Bay Packers side.
The season ended in mass disappointment. Sharpe had never missed an NFL game in his career. Then, he suffered a serious neck injury that ended his career. Favre would go on to win the MVP award the next three seasons after posting eye-popping numbers, but Sharpe was the one who lifted Favre to new heights.