Tag: CPOY

Alex Smith voted as NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year

It may have been the biggest lock of the century, but Washington’s Alex Smith has been officially named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

It comes as no surprise, but Washington’s quarterback Alex Smith has officially been named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year for the 2020 season.

After battling back from a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that briefly threatened his life and required a total of 17 surgeries to repair, Smith came back to not only make the roster in Washington, but play football at a high level. After the team’s own quarterback carousel churned, leaving Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen by the wayside, Smith’s name was called to step up, and he went 5-1 as a starter, helping to turn Washington’s season around and give them their first playoff berth since 2015.

In the end, Smith was unable to play in the wild-card game because of a complication with an injury in that right leg, but the groundwork for him to win this award was already well-paved. In fact, there is a growing belief that the NFL could end up renaming the CPOY award as the ‘Alex Smith Comeback Player of the Year Award’ after the amazing feat that he accomplished this year. We believe it should happen, anyway.

Going forward, Smith is faced with the decision to keep playing or retire going into the 2021 season. One would think that he has accomplished all that he would want to after overcoming this injury, but his comments this offseason sound like someone who wants to run it back at least one more time.

While we wait for his decision, we can marvel at his accomplishments and celebrate the man for the inspiration he is. Congratulations, Alex. We are all incredibly proud of you, and so happy to have you here in D.C.

[listicle id=46619]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=475135]

[lawrence-related id=475379]