Jon Ryan Wants to Abolish Mr. Irrelevant Tag

Proving once again that punters are people too, Seattle Seahawks special teamer Jon Ryan has spoken out about one of the most anticipated moments of the NFL draft’s final day. Ryan took to Twitter to air his grievances about the “Mr. Irrelevant” tag, given to the last player selected.

“This guy worked his entire life for this day and we call him “Mr. Irrelevant,”” said Ryan. “It’s 2016, let’s get rid of this ridiculous tag.” Far be it from us to criticize someone who actually plays the sport, but it sounds like someone’s taking things a little too seriously.

A mainstay of the draft since 1976, the “Mr. Irrelevant” award has consistently lent a little levity to day three, when viewers and announcers are all analysed out. The “winner” receives a jersey complete with a comically large number on the back, and is invited to “Irrelevant Week” that coming summer. There, he is treated to a golf tournament, regatta, a roast and the “Lowsman” trophy, which depicts a player fumbling a football and is a pun on college football’s coveted Heisman.

This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Kalan Reed, cornerback out of Southern Miss, was so irrelevant that he didn’t even receive the right jersey. The Broncos initially held the final pick but traded it to the Titans – a team that, at one point, held the first overall pick. Rather than let a perfectly good #253 jersey go to waste, the organizers simply handed it to the young man who took it all in stride.

Is there the potential to hurt someone’s feelings a little? Maybe, but no worse than what he’d hear on the field every Sunday playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Ryan’s comments linger dangerously close to creating another “safe space” – this time for professional athletes – in a society permeated by political correctness and social justice warriors.

Let’s keep this in perspective. It’s likely whoever gets picked last would rather have the fun, games and guaranteed money, that come with the tag of “Mr. Irrelevant” than the anonymity and uncertainty that comes with not being drafted at all.