Add NBC Sports’ Peter King to those expressing discontent with the decision to award Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year title over Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin last week. In his “Football Morning in America” column on Monday, King voiced his frustration, deeming it “ridiculous” and even “absurd” that Flacco, who returned after a stint on the couch, received the honor over Hamlin, who made a remarkable comeback after being resuscitated on the football field in January.
Despite Flacco’s impactful role as a temporary replacement for the Browns during the 2023 season, helping them secure a postseason berth, King found the decision to be unjust. Hamlin, who was voted Comeback Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America, had a compelling story of resilience. The 25-year-old safety went into cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023 and had to be resuscitated on the field.
Flacco himself advocated for Hamlin to win the award, but the final voting results favored Flacco, with 13 first-place votes and 151 total points compared to Hamlin’s 21 first-place votes and 140 total points. King expressed bewilderment at eight voters not including Hamlin in their top three Comeback candidates, stating, “I simply do not understand.”
King’s sentiments echo the discontent expressed by others, such as Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, who noted that Hamlin’s incredible comeback from a life-threatening situation didn’t secure him the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year. A.Q. Shipley, a one-time Super Bowl champion, also criticized the NFL’s awards, suggesting they missed the mark on several categories during the “NFL Honors” ceremony.
