Every NFL season, the league hands out various awards to players who have achieved success in different areas.
The MVP award is one of the most prestigious, along with Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, etc.
However, there is one award that has been called into scrutiny as of late, as the defining characteristics to win this award are unclear.
The award in question is the Comeback Player of the Year award.
We need to rethink what this award is about. Saquon played 13 games the previous season. Geno was mostly a backup on merit. What are they coming back from?
This award should be for guys like Brian Robinson and/or Nick Gates. Their journeys define ‘comeback.’ https://t.co/07AUfqXhRh
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 25, 2023
This morning, it was announced that Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Geno Smith were nominated for the Comeback Player of the Year award finalists.
What truly defines a comeback player?
As one New York Giants analyst explains, the merit of this award is unclear.
Sure, Barkley, Smith, and McCaffrey had better seasons this year than they did in 2021, but is that the metric that the league is measuring?
As Jordan Raanan mentions above, Brian Robinson would be a great candidate for this award.
Earlier in the year, Robinson was shot in the leg several times, and his future in the league as a running back was in serious jeopardy.
Not only was Robinson able to walk again, a miracle in its own right, but he was also able to contribute to the Washington Commanders’ offense this season as well.
The NFL’s awards could use some updates, including the Comeback Player of the Year award.
There are many questions concerning this award, and we hope that they are soon cleared up.
How will the NFL respond to this scrutiny?
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