NFL Comeback Award voting: 2 Horns, but no Williams

by TXinDC on Jan 6, 2010 12:24 PM CST

Well, America's golden boy, Tom Brady, won the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year award.

Congrats to Tommy boy, but let's run down the list to see, at least, where our Texas ex, Mr. Heisman, Ricky Williams lands on the list....

layer	Votes
Tom Brady, QB, New England	19
Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay	14
Vince Young, QB, Tennessee	7
Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati	4
Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota	4
Anthony Hargrove, DE, New Orleans	1

Wow. Just wow. Not only is Ricky nowhere to be seen, but somehow Brett Favre shows up on the list as if he ever "went" anywhere to warrant a comeback.

Apparently, all you need to do is be injured one year, then come back to play - not necessarily better than you've ever played before, but just come back.

I've got nothing but love for Cedric Benson - he had a HUGE turnaround year, and is as equally deserving as Vince Young or Ricky Williams to have won this. But no questions asked in my opinion - Ricky Williams made a bigger comeback than anyone else this year, and was more pivotal to his team.

This was the season that he thought would be his last... this was his season to prove not that he's necessarily one of the top backs in the league, but just that he had his life together and was ready to give his team all that he could. And doggoneit, he did it. And he gets no recognition.

Does anyone see this list as being justified?

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Comments

Why is Tom Brady even on the list?

by burntorangehorn on Jan 6, 2010 12:27 PM CST reply actions

Its Tom Brady

and thats all it comes down to.

The "Big Bang" was actually a Will Muschamp chestbump......with the Earth!

by kirk1005 on Jan 6, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

Ricky Williams played in all 16 games last year.

While Tom Brady played in a few minutes of the first one. Not sure what all the ruckus is about.

by BigTexBD on Jan 6, 2010 1:36 PM CST reply actions

I guess it's a matter of interpretation

To me, a comeback is about exceeding expectations after an established history of not making a big impact. Tom Brady really didn’t do that.

by burntorangehorn on Jan 6, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Matter of interpretation indeed

IMO a comeback is when a player competes for some time, then misses a significant amount of time for some reason or another, then makes an impact in his return to the game.

I would categorize your definition of “comeback” as a “breakthrough,” which is not officially recognized as an award in sports (besides the ESPYs maybe).

As for Brady, it’s funny: in the season he misses, his team goes 11-5 and misses the playoffs. In his return, they’re one game worse but make the playoffs.

by BigTexBD on Jan 6, 2010 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

And I guess I should clarify

The player’s “comeback year” would be considered his first one after returning from absence, which disqualifies Ricky from this season’s balloting.

by BigTexBD on Jan 6, 2010 5:54 PM CST up reply actions

Ricky

I’m sure many voters are punishing Williams for his pot smoking and journey of self-discovery. Some folks are still fighting the culture wars of the ’60s and it affects the way they see things.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jan 6, 2010 5:34 PM CST reply actions