Because the NFL MVP award goes to a quarterback in most years, as it should, there’s also an award for Offensive Player of the Year.

No blocker ever won that honor, however. So in March, the NFL created the NFL Protector of the Year award.

Shouts of “about time!” emanated in the football heavens from the likes of Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll, John Madden, Bill Walsh and Tom Landry.

It’s not too early to hype up the inaugural race.

Among the top contenders are these tackles: the Eagles’ Lane Johnson, 35, the 49ers’ Trent Williams, 37, and the Lions’ Penei Sewell, 24.

Each one has landed on multiple All-Pro first teams. Johnson and Williams were the best players on a Super Bowl club or two. Sewell did a lot to rescue quarterback Jared Goff’s career and transform the pitiful Lions into an

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