The Minnesota Vikings have been arguably the biggest surprise in the NFL this season, thanks in large part to quarterback Sam Darnold’s outstanding performance under centre. Darnold went from being a cast-off veteran quarterback to leading Minnesota to an undefeated record after five games, putting him in early contention for multiple honours.
While Darnold is presently considered the MVP front-runner, he is not eligible to earn the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year honour. While there’s no denying that Darnold’s story is quite a turnaround, the league sent a memo to voters prior of the season prohibiting them from voting for him to win the award.
Via Rob Maaddi:
“Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was probably a candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award before the Associated Press issued guidance to voters before the season, instructing them that ‘the spirit of the award is to honour 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.'” If he keeps performing at this level, Darnold might win another award: Most Valuable Player.
Sam Darnold may wind up winning MVP for the Vikings instead.
Darnold has undoubtedly put together an impressive comeback narrative, as he has now realized the potential that led to his selection as the third overall choice in the 2018 NFL Draft. The issue is that the league is reducing the scope of what the honour recognizes, therefore Darnold no longer meets the qualifications for Comeback Player of the Year.
Still, if Darnold continues to play at this high level (87/137, 1111 yards, 11 touchdowns, 4 interceptions), he will most definitely win some awards this season. It just won’t be the Comeback Player of the Year honour, as it appears to go to a player who more closely meets the title’s criteria than Darnold, despite his apparent comeback story.
Leave a Reply