In past years, the type of performance we have seen from Darnold would make him a lock to win the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The criteria seem to have changed this year, however.
According to AP senior NFL writer Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press issued guidance to voters during the offseason instructing them that the Comeback Player of the Year Award should “honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season.”
The AP wants the Comeback Player of the Year Award to be reserved for players like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers, who both tore their Achilles last season.
According to AP senior NFL writer Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press issued guidance to voters during the offseason instructing them that the Comeback Player of the Year Award should “honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season.”
The AP wants the Comeback Player of the Year Award to be reserved for players like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers, who both tore their Achilles last season.