Kenny Clark Cursed with Offseason MVP Designation

Not too long ago, we predicted second-year defensive lineman Kenny Clark would be the Green Bay Packers’ offseason MVP. That he would join the pantheon of greatness that is the list of Packers’ offseason MVPs.

Greats like Jeff Janis, Davante Adams and Brandon Underwood.

We are not unaware of the argument that cornerback Damarious Randall is the Packers’ offseason MVP. After all, he did garner praise from coach Mike McCarthy earlier this week, but so did several other players.

No, the one guy who has been consistently praised from day one of OTAs to the final day of minicamp is Clark. That’s a clear sign that he is indeed the Packers’ offseason MVP.

And here’s what cemented it.

“I think Kenny Clark probably may be our best, most-improved second-year player,” McCarthy said during is final minicamp press conference. “Going through this phase right now. He looks great, so it’s just really creating those opportunities for those other guys.”

You know how we love the offseason MVP designation.

After McCarthy explicitly called Adams the offseason MVP after his rookie season, he went out and crapped the bed. McCarthy has refused to use those words in conjunction since.

But we can read between the lines.

There’s always one guy who gets more praise than the others during the offseason. And that, my friends, is your offseason MVP. Just because McCarthy doesn’t want to say it, doesn’t mean we won’t.

Unfortunately for Clark, the Packers’ offseason MVP designation is much akin to the Madden Curse. Very few offseason MVPs have had an impact. Some of them have regressed. Some of them haven’t progressed at all. Some of them have been arrested.

Okay, only one of them has been arrested, but you get the picture.

If Clark actually improves from his rookie campaign (21 tackles, no sacks, two PDs, two FRs), he will be one of the few to avoid the offseason MVP curse.

Because it’s one thing to look good when you’re running around in shorts and there’s no contact, and entirely another when you’re in full pads and getting hit in the mouth.