Controversial rule change will prevent Sam Darnold from winning NFL award that Minnesota Vikings QB deserves
Sam Darnold is a serious MVP candidate and could lead the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl. In a NFL season overloaded with inspiring stories and crazy comebacks, nothing tops Darnold’s unbelievable career turnaround. GettySam Darnold won’t be allowed to win a rare award because of a rule change[/caption] He saw ghosts with the Jets and was run out of New York. He’s a former USC star and top three draft pick who was supposed to be a franchise quarterback and saviour for the hapless Jets, but is only now reveling in his true professional breakthrough seven years later. In a normal NFL world governed by sensible rules, the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year award would be sitting in a box with Darnold’s name written on the front. But this is the NFL and a sometimes wishy-washy world as 2024 becomes 2025. A season after some voters and media members insisted that Damar Hamlin had to win the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award — despite the fact that Hamlin barely played for Buffalo last season and didn’t start a game — the new rules governing who is and isn’t allowed to win one of the league’s most prestigious awards have literally barred Darnold from receiving what is rightfully his. “Vikings QB Sam Darnold probably would’ve been a candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award,” Associated Press senior writer Rob Maaddi tweeted in October. “The AP issued guidance to voters before the season, instructing them that ‘the spirit of the award is to 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.’ “ Darnold has undoubtedly displayed ‘resilience.’ He dealt with year after year of professional adversity, bouncing from the Jets, where he was taken with the third overall pick in 2018 to the Carolina Panthers and then to San Francisco, where he was forced to watch as Brock Purdy‘s backup in 2023 while the 49ers almost won the biggest sports trophy in the world. ‘Spirit’ also captures Darnold, who was triumphantly celebrated by his new Vikings teammates in the team’s locker room in Week 17, just months after he was never supposed to play for a Minnesota team that heavily invested in J.J. McCarthy as its new franchise QB. x@VikingsDarnold was heroically lifted up by his Vikings teammates[/caption] x@VikingsHe couldn’t believe the overwhelming reception[/caption] GettyDamar Hamlin didn’t win the award last year and the rules were changed[/caption] And ‘overcoming’ perfectly describes Darnold’s career, since he was laughed out of New York and coldly traded by the Jets — despite posting a better record for Gang Green than Aaron Rodgers — then watched Bryce Young temporarily become the answer for the still-losing Panthers. “THAT’S OUR FREAKING QUARTERBACK,” the Vikings tweeted after Minnesota improved to 14-2. Yet thanks to some 2024 NFL version of award-language nonsense, Darnold supposedly hasn’t ‘come back’ from enough to even be eligible for the award. Yet he only trails Joe Burrow in betting odds. However Burrow started 10 games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, while Darnold spent 2023 in mop-up duty, throwing 46 passes compared to 365 for Burrow. Burrow did suffer a torn wrist ligament in Week 11, though. For that lone reason, he’s the heavy Comeback Player of the Year favorite, while Darnold isn’t expected to receive consideration. “Then add a Most Improved Player award,” one fan tweeted. “Playing for both the Jets and Panthers should count as adversity,” a second fan posted. “Translation: ‘The AP is still super mad you didn’t vote for who they wanted last year,’ ” a third fan wrote. “Oh my god, they changed the criteria bc Hamlin didn’t win,” a fourth fan said. Last year’s Comeback Player of the Year award was rightfully given to Joe Flacco. But that NFL Honors result was a stunner, since it felt all season like so many in the media were trying to gift wrap the award for the non-playing Hamlin. Burrow is playing on a $275 million contract, and throws weekly touchdowns to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, yet the Bengals are 8-8. One of the best QBs in the NFL is a legit MVP contender. But handing Burrow the Comeback Player of the Year award simply because he was injured for seven games last season doubles down on an already absurd joke. Darnold defines NFL Comeback Player of the Year right now. His best answer to being banned from winning by voters would be winning the Super Bowl with the Vikings in New Orleans. But for the rest of his career, he’ll still be owed a Comeback Player of the Year trophy by voters who insisted that they understand what it means to play in the NFL more than actual NFL players. talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all
Sam Darnold is a serious MVP candidate and could lead the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl.
In a NFL season overloaded with inspiring stories and crazy comebacks, nothing tops Darnold’s unbelievable career turnaround.
He saw ghosts with the Jets and was run out of New York.
He’s a former USC star and top three draft pick who was supposed to be a franchise quarterback and saviour for the hapless Jets, but is only now reveling in his true professional breakthrough seven years later.
In a normal NFL world governed by sensible rules, the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year award would be sitting in a box with Darnold’s name written on the front.
But this is the NFL and a sometimes wishy-washy world as 2024 becomes 2025.
A season after some voters and media members insisted that Damar Hamlin had to win the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award — despite the fact that Hamlin barely played for Buffalo last season and didn’t start a game — the new rules governing who is and isn’t allowed to win one of the league’s most prestigious awards have literally barred Darnold from receiving what is rightfully his.
“Vikings QB Sam Darnold probably would’ve been a candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award,” Associated Press senior writer Rob Maaddi tweeted in October.
“The AP issued guidance to voters before the season, instructing them that ‘the spirit of the award is to 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.’ “
Darnold has undoubtedly displayed ‘resilience.’
He dealt with year after year of professional adversity, bouncing from the Jets, where he was taken with the third overall pick in 2018 to the Carolina Panthers and then to San Francisco, where he was forced to watch as Brock Purdy‘s backup in 2023 while the 49ers almost won the biggest sports trophy in the world.
‘Spirit’ also captures Darnold, who was triumphantly celebrated by his new Vikings teammates in the team’s locker room in Week 17, just months after he was never supposed to play for a Minnesota team that heavily invested in J.J. McCarthy as its new franchise QB.
And ‘overcoming’ perfectly describes Darnold’s career, since he was laughed out of New York and coldly traded by the Jets — despite posting a better record for Gang Green than Aaron Rodgers — then watched Bryce Young temporarily become the answer for the still-losing Panthers.
“THAT’S OUR FREAKING QUARTERBACK,” the Vikings tweeted after Minnesota improved to 14-2.
Yet thanks to some 2024 NFL version of award-language nonsense, Darnold supposedly hasn’t ‘come back’ from enough to even be eligible for the award.
Yet he only trails Joe Burrow in betting odds.
However Burrow started 10 games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, while Darnold spent 2023 in mop-up duty, throwing 46 passes compared to 365 for Burrow.
Burrow did suffer a torn wrist ligament in Week 11, though.
For that lone reason, he’s the heavy Comeback Player of the Year favorite, while Darnold isn’t expected to receive consideration.
“Then add a Most Improved Player award,” one fan tweeted.
“Playing for both the Jets and Panthers should count as adversity,” a second fan posted.
“Translation: ‘The AP is still super mad you didn’t vote for who they wanted last year,’ ” a third fan wrote.
“Oh my god, they changed the criteria bc Hamlin didn’t win,” a fourth fan said.
Last year’s Comeback Player of the Year award was rightfully given to Joe Flacco.
But that NFL Honors result was a stunner, since it felt all season like so many in the media were trying to gift wrap the award for the non-playing Hamlin.
Burrow is playing on a $275 million contract, and throws weekly touchdowns to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, yet the Bengals are 8-8.
One of the best QBs in the NFL is a legit MVP contender.
But handing Burrow the Comeback Player of the Year award simply because he was injured for seven games last season doubles down on an already absurd joke.
Darnold defines NFL Comeback Player of the Year right now.
His best answer to being banned from winning by voters would be winning the Super Bowl with the Vikings in New Orleans.
But for the rest of his career, he’ll still be owed a Comeback Player of the Year trophy by voters who insisted that they understand what it means to play in the NFL more than actual NFL players.
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talkSPORT will bring you live coverage across Week 18 with a double header featuring the Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions.
