Tag: Comeback Player of The Year

Alex Smith locked up ‘Comeback Player of the Year’ with win over Steelers

You could argue that Smith won the Comeback Player of the Year award before taking a single snap, but it’s no longer up for debate after latest victory.

Going into the Monday Night matinee between the Washington Football Team and Pittsburgh Steelers, the FOX TV crew was doing what they could to try and build interest in the matchup. It was understandable, with not many people liley to tune into a game between an 11-0 powerhouse facing a 4-7 pushover in the worst division in the NFL. However, it was curious that they touted the battle between Alex Smith and Ben Roethlisberger, using both players’ candidacy for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

We all know what Smith went through; 17 surgeries after almost losing his leg and his life two years ago, battling back to walk, run, and play football when nobody said it was possible. Big Ben underwent surgery on his elbow last year that reattached three torn flexor tendons. Sure, a serious injury, but are we really comparing the two?

Well, nonetheless, Alex Smith seemingly sealed the CPOY award on Monday night with his victory that seemed almost as monumental in the award running as it was on the field. Smith threw for 296 yards and 1 TD, leading his team back from 14 points down and getting the upset victory on the road, handing the Steelers their first loss of the season and Washington’s first win in the rivalry since 1991.

Roethlisberger had 305 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT in the game.

In our opinion, Smith won the award the very first time he stepped onto the field this season. That was enough for us, but it apparently wasn’t enough for others. Now, it should be zero question as to who the winner is.

Alex Smith is your Comeback Player of the Year. It’s no longer up for debate.

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Skowronek, Hayes Named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

Notre Dame’s list of players worth watching continues to grow.

Notre Dame’s list of players worth watching continues to grow. It was announced Wednesday that receiver Ben Skowronek and linebacker Daelin Hayes are on the 2020 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. The award recognizes college football student-athletes who have overcome illness or injury. Three winners will be announced at this year’s Fiesta Bowl.

That these particular Irish players have been selected for this watch list shouldn’t be a surprise. Skowronek, the transfer who suffered an injury that needed surgery during his final season at Northwestern, was the unanimous selection for our offensive game ball after making two touchdown receptions for 107 yards against Pittsburgh. Likewise, we unanimously picked Hayes, the captain whose 2019 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder injury, for our defensive game ball thanks to two sacks and two forced fumbles against Georgia Tech. So even if they haven’t been impactful in every game, their contributions thus far have not got unnoticed, even by those of us watching from our homes.

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cam Newton: It’s full speed ahead in NFL’s CPOY race

Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger is the top bet to win NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Though Comeback Player of the Year-worthy candidates via BetMGM has changed throughout the year, one name has remained constant in the top spot, and that’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger and Patriots Cam Newton have emerged as the best bets to garner the coveted CPOY award. Given their 2019 seasons were rendered void due to injury, there are no two players better situated to achieve the comeback.

Here are the seven best bets for CPOY at BetMGM:

  • Ben Roethlisberger +350
  • Cam Newton +450
  • Alex Smith +600
  • Matt Stafford +800
  • J.J. Watt +900
  • Rob Gronkowski +900
  • A.J. Green +1600

Smith winning the honor would make for a great story with all that he has been through. And while rumblings out of Washington have been positive so far, Smith was just cleared for football activity three weeks ago. Head coach Ron Rivera also named Dwayne Haskins the starter. Haskins produced a 2-7 record in nine starts in 2019 but played well enough to avoid the bench.

My bias leads me toward Roethlisberger taking CPOY honors over Newton, but there’s also logical reasoning behind it. Big Ben is heading into his 17th season with the Steelers, and Cam has been a Patriot for all of 67 days. It’s also worth noting that while Roethlisberger was setting franchise and career records in 2018 with a bum elbow, Newton was struggling to air the ball out due to shoulder and foot injuries.

The NFL CPOY award has gone to quarterbacks an astounding 12 times in the last 18 years. Should Roethlisberger earn the honor (it’s a long season that hasn’t even started yet), he’ll be the first Steeler to win the award since Tommy Maddox back in 2002.

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Prescott, Lamb, McCarthy among Cowboys primed for strong 2020, say oddsmakers

An online sportsbook has released odds for end-of-season awards, naming several Cowboys as having favorable odds in their categories.

Football fans looking to put their money where their mouths are should probably start with the biggest gamble of them all right now: namely, whether there will even be a 2020 NFL season. Assuming the league moves forward and finds a way to play some semblance of a season, though, there will be plenty to wager on for those so inclined.

Even for those who don’t have monetary skin in the game, though, looking at the official odds has always been a way to gauge who’s favored to do what come gameday. And Cowboys fans itching for a sneak peek at how some of their guys will do in 2020 may find a good deal of encouragement in the latest set of numbers.

The sportsbook BetOnline has released odds on the league’s end-of-year awards, and the Cowboys are well-represented, an indicator that those in the know are projecting potentially strong campaigns from several Dallas notables.

In the regular season MVP race, quarterback Dak Prescott currently has the third-best odds to bring home the hardware. Only Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are more likely to be named the league’s Most Valuable Player, according to the site. Prescott is tied with Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, and Tom Brady. Argue over the exact figures there, but that’s fine company for the Dallas passer to find himself in, and could point to the likelihood of a stellar season.

Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey is the first non-quarterback on the list, at 14th. Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott is the fourth non-passer ranked, with the 26th-best odds overall. Among running backs, Elliott is behind McCaffrey, Derrick Henry (21), and Saquon Barkley (25).

DeMarcus Lawrence finds himself 13th on the list of candidates to win Defensive Player of the Year, with the same odds as Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter. Other Cowboys defenders listed with odds to win the award are Jaylon Smith (32), Aldon Smith (35), Leighton Vander Esch (37), and Gerald McCoy (67).

For those curious, recently-departed Byron Jones sits 27th. Current wish-list players Jadeveon Clowney and Jamal Adams are 14th and 19th, respectively.

Defensive Rookie of the Year? There are fifteen names ahead of Trevon Diggs. But, speaking to the promise of the Cowboys’ defensive rookie class of 2020 as a whole, Bradlee Anae and Neville Gallimore are also given DRoY odds; they rank 37th and 45th.

CeeDee Lamb holds the No. 7 spot among Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates and is the highest-ranking wide receiver on the list. He beats out Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, both of whom were drafted ahead of Lamb in April.

Comeback Player of the Year is always a fascinating one. In 2019, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was named the award’s recipient, despite the astonishing return of Cowboys center Travis Frederick, who had spent the previous year battling a rare neurological disorder that left him barely able to walk. For the 2020 season, new Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith is listed 10th by the oddsmakers, behind names like Ben Roethlisberger, Rob Gronkowski, Cam Newton, Nick Foles, and JJ Watt. Interestingly, the new backup passer in Dallas, Andy Dalton, is ranked 13th.

Mike McCarthy is given the second-best odds of winning 2020’s Coach of the Year award, behind Bill Belichick and Bruce Arians, currently tied with the best chances. If he does go on to win the honor, McCarthy would be the second Cowboys coach to earn the title in the past five years; Jason Garrett won Coach of the Year in 2016.

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NFL.com lists Bradley Chubb among 2020 bounce-back candidates

NFL.com expects Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb to have a big year in 2020.

Last week, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt published a list of “12 players returning from a significant absence in 2019 who are primed to make the biggest impact in 2020.” Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb made the list, ranked No. 9.

“A strong Year 3 from Chubb could provide a major boost to a Broncos team on the verge of potentially turning things around in 2020 — and if he proves better than [Von] Miller, he could even allow the Broncos to move on from the decorated but pricy veteran next offseason,” Brandt wrote on NFL.com.

While it’s great to see the national media expecting big things from Chubb this season, it’s a bit alarming to read Brandt suggesting moving on from Miller. He will be 32 years old in 2021 but $17.5 million won’t be too pricey if Miller continues producing sacks and pressures.

Miller obviously won’t play forever, but there’s no need to move on from him before his contract runs out in 2022. At that point, Miller will be 33 years old — and he will probably deserve an extension (at a much cheaper cost, of course). Denver’s front office showed support for Miller by picking up his contract option for the 2020 season earlier this year.

Miller and Chubb should be a dynamic duo for at least two more seasons.

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Rob Gronkowski futures odds: 2020 NFL awards, picks and best bets

Assessing Rob Gronkowski’s futures odds to win major NFL awards in 2020, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets.

Future NFL Hall of Fame TE Rob Gronkowski has come out of retirement to be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and reunite with QB Tom Brady for the 2020 season. Below, we break down Gronkowski’s NFL futures odds at BetMGM and assess his chances of winning the NFL MVP and Comeback Player of the Year awards.

Already one of the most accomplished tight ends in NFL history, Gronkowski is still just 30 years old and is viewed as a frontrunner for the CPOY and a long shot for the MVP.

Rob Gronkowski futures: MVP odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday, April 28 at 12:35 p.m. ET.

Gronkowski is one of 28 players with +15000 odds to win the 2020 MVP award. Sixty-seven players have longer odds and 46 have lower odds. Four other tight ends are listed, with San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle leading the position at +10000. Philadelphia Eagles TE Zach Ertz is +15000, Las Vegas Raiders TE Darren Waller is +20000 and Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is +250000.

A $10 bet on Gronkowski to be named MVP would return a profit of $1,500 if he were to win. Despite the sizable payout, this bet draws a hard PASS. No tight end in NFL history has ever been named MVP. Despite Gronk’s relative youth, he’s unlikely to come anywhere near a stellar 2011 campaign in which he racked up 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns, and didn’t receive a single vote.

Additionally, if the Buccaneers succeed in the turnaround they’re expected to pull off this season, it will undoubtedly be Brady getting the credit with MVP odds of just +1400. WRs Mike Evans (+10000) and Chris Godwin (+20000) could also receive recognition to detract from Gronk voters.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Rob Gronkowski futures: Comeback Player of the Year odds

A much safer play for those wanting betting action on Gronkowski in the 2020 NFL season is for Comeback Player of the Year. At +400, Gronkowski is the award’s co-favorite with Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Gronkowski previously won the award in 2014, when he returned from a torn ACL (and several other injuries) to amass 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns on 82 receptions. He isn’t facing quite the same hurdles as Roethlisberger, who is returning from elbow surgery which cut his 2019 campaign short mid-way through Week 2, but he’ll be playing for 2020’s “it” team and has always drawn plenty of attention.

Say YES to this bet and back Gronkowski to win the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year award at +400. A $10 bet will return a profit of $40.

Want action on Rob Gronkowski NFL futures betting? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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