DaRon Bland 'Should Easily Win' Defensive Player Award, Admits Dallas Cowboys Rival
FRISCO - How locked-in is DaRon Bland's NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidacy? So locked in that it seems even the Dallas Cowboys-hating Philadelphia Eagles would vote for him.
"DPOY Bland right now,'' Eagles cornerback Darius Slay tweeted this week. "It shouldn't even be a debate.''
It's one thing for anybody inside Cowboys Nation to see the legitimacy of Bland, who set a new NFL record with five interceptions returned for a touchdown in the same season, as the Cowboys crushed the Washington Commanders 45-10 in a Thanksgiving win on Thursday.
For instance, Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons - himself a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year honor in each of his first two seasons and this year, with 11.5 sacks, again deserving of attention - is throwing his support toward Bland.
"Facts!!!'' Micah wrote on Twitter regarding what Bland has done.
It's also cool when a legend like the NBA's LeBron James recognizes the same.
But the support from Slay, himself a five-time Pro Bowler, is noteworthy. The Cowboys are 8-3 and chasing the 9-1 Eagles in the NFC East. Philly, as a whole, would surely prefer to avoid giving Dallas any sort of edge whatsoever, even in the confidence department.
And yet ... "facts.''
Can a defensive back win DPOY? Since 2011, the only DB to do so is cornerback Stephen Gilmore in 2019, then with the New England Patriots and now of course a Dallas teammate of Bland's.
But in the last 25 or so years, multiple DBs have won it ... and if you check out the link above, you'll see how Bland stacks up against the likes of legends such as Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.
One hurdle for Bland? The pass-rushers are all the rage. Cleveland's Myles Garrett, Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt and Parsons are all putting up glitzy sack numbers.
But we would point out in an argument for Bland: It's not unique to get 20 sacks, great accomplishment that it is.
To get five pick-6's? That, in the most literal sense, is "unique.''
Bland, a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2022 out of Fresno State, is beginning to grasp the fact that he's creating a legacy here. He's making note now of the kids back in Modesto, California, who may have been watching his Thanksgiving spectacular.
"That was one of my biggest things, to show the kids back home that you can do it," said Bland. "Whatever you put your mind to, you can do it. … It's another thing to be thankful for."
Bland might also end up being thankful for the support of his rivals-turned-supporters.
“He should easily win it,'' Slay said of Bland. "Only way he don’t is if somebody gets 25+ sacks. That (just) don’t happen. “I got five total (TDs) my whole career. He got five right now!''
