NEW ORLEANS — Jared Verse strolled the purple carpet at NFL Honors on Thursday evening in a pointy bronze-colored go well with, and the Rams edge rusher did so with the identical confidence he displayed on and off the sphere in his first season.
A couple of hours later, Verse was introduced because the NFL defensive rookie of the 12 months, the primary Rams participant to win the award since Aaron Donald in 2014.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was essentially the most beneficial participant.
A nationwide panel of fifty media members who recurrently cowl the NFL accomplished ballots earlier than the playoffs started. Instances reporters don’t vote for awards.
Philadelphia working again Saquon Barkley was the offensive participant of the 12 months, Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II the defensive participant of the 12 months. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was the offensive rookie of the 12 months and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow the comeback participant of the 12 months. Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell was coach of the 12 months.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead was voted the Walter Payton Man of the 12 months, awarded to an NFL participant for his excellence on and off the sphere.
Verse mentioned throughout coaching camp that he not solely needed to be the most effective gamers within the league, but additionally the most effective ever.
“I believe it’s a small step in direction of it,” he mentioned after receiving the award, including, “That’s the primary factor — you’ll be able to’t get happy. It’s only a small step to an enormous aim.”
Verse, the one Rams participant to be voted to the Professional Bowl, outdistanced teammate Braden Fiske, Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson for the award.
Verse exceeded expectations after the Rams chosen him with the No. 19 choose within the draft.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse started his faculty profession at Albany earlier than transferring to Florida State, the place he teamed with Fiske to provide the Seminoles a powerful go rush.
The brash and loquacious Verse made a direct influence on Rams teammates and coaches throughout low season exercises and continued to excel throughout coaching camp practices with the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys.
He acquired his first sack within the opener in opposition to the Detroit Lions earlier than struggling in a Week 2 rout by the Arizona Cardinals.
However Verse steadily improved. Although he completed with solely 4½ sacks, he was considered one of the crucial disruptive go rushers within the NFL. And he was not afraid to let opponents — and opposing staff’s followers — realize it.
A couple of days after he returned a fumble 57 yards for a landing in an NFC wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Verse riled the Philadelphia Eagles devoted by saying he hated Eagles followers and located them annoying.
Verse embraced the position of villain at Lincoln Monetary Subject. He had two sacks throughout the Rams’ defeat and received the respect of many followers along with his play.