Sporting News Names Plaxico Burress as Their Comeback Player of the Year

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 25, 2012 11:34 AM EST

Even Burress looks surprised that he was considered.

A few days ago, Pro Football Weekly named Matthew Stafford as their Comeback Player of the Year. Stafford was a definite candidate for the award after missing most of last season and the type of stats he put up in 2011, but it wasn't a big deal to see him win it over linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.

What I am not so hot on is the fact that wide receiver Plaxico Burress was named Sporting News' Comeback Player of the Year. The year before, Michael Vick received the award. I didn't know you had to go to prison to be considered for the award. All kidding aside, while Vick did probably deserve the award last year, I don't see how Burress' 45-catch, 612-yard, 8-touchdown season stands out compared to some of the other candidates.

First off, I'm always more supportive of giving the award to someone who came back from a significant injury. Jackson was battling back from two years worth of pectoral injuries, and he managed to make it through the entire 16-game season. Not only that, but it was Jackson's best season as a pro. He led the NFL in individual tackles (116) and finished second in the league in combined tackles (158), second only to London Fletcher's 166 combined tackles. Jackson also recovered three fumbles (tied for second best in the league), and had 3.5 sacks and 1 interception.

What irks me a little bit more is the fact that Jackson didn't even finish in the top four in votes, according to the Sporting News. And this voting was supposedly conducted by Jackson's peers.

Burress received 164 votes; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith came in second with 91, followed by Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil with 46 and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford with 42. Voting was done by NFL players, coaches and executives.

The award that really matters is the one that the Associated Press hands out. I believe they are expected to announce their Comeback Player of the Year on February 4, 2012. I don't necessarily mind if it's not Jackson who gets the honor, but I certainly don't think it should be Burress.

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AP’s award will come out at the award show right?

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by SpecialBrownie on Jan 25, 2012 12:18 PM EST reply actions

I really think there should be rules as to what a come back is. Coming back from jail is not a come back. Coming back from a bad season is not a come back. A come back is returning to form due to a pyhsical injury that was not your fault; again if you wreck your motorcycle and are out for a year, come back and do great (still not a come back)

by Mayor_Bloom on Jan 25, 2012 12:20 PM EST reply actions

right, coming back from a football related hardship/injury should be the only criteria. if Hillis becomes a raging alcholic to the point he loses his job for a season, I would not acknowledge a NFL record breaking season as a comeback the following year.

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday, for an MDP today.

by WYBHaden? on Jan 25, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

The Comeback Player is defined as overcoming adversity, whether it’s not being in the NFL the previous year, injury, or simply a bad year. That’s not to say I don’t agree with you.

"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." -Paul Brown

by macdowellm03 on Jan 25, 2012 1:40 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

I understand this, but Plaxico wasn’t that great, not enough to deserve it over DQ. I can’t justify in any way giving it to Plaxico over any of the other major candidates out there. I’d give it over to Stafford easily over him.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
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by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

Shit Greg Little didn’t play last year, hardly has ever played receiver and had no QBs and had better stats than Plexico.

by HenryDawg on Jan 25, 2012 8:28 PM EST up reply actions

He got more targets than Plax, but I do agree with your overall point. If Plaxico wasn’t Plaxico and didn’t play for the Jets, he wouldn’t get this.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
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by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 9:52 PM EST up reply actions

Sporting News can go root for Buffalo.

"We just lost to the Steelers 20 hours ago and that still hurts. I need to get home and eat a burrito." -Phil Dawson

by Adrock2099 on Jan 25, 2012 12:44 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

And Buffalo would accept the publicity.

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by SpecialBrownie on Jan 25, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

This helps to explain why most people don’t pay attention to them…

by BornAKardiacKid on Jan 25, 2012 1:03 PM EST via Android app reply actions

OK… what a crock.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 1:06 PM EST reply actions

What about the Piece of Crap should not have been allowed to play in the NFL?. Lets celebrate a man returning from a Prison sentence and not a man who had two major injuries and battled back and did the work to be a very good linebacker. I think more teams would take DQ over Plaxico. Plaxico Burress is over rated ex and again will be con. Horrible choice

by champion64 on Jan 25, 2012 3:11 PM EST reply actions

Why should have Plax been not allowed back in the NFL?

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 25, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure either. It’s not like he hurt anyone. He actually shot HIMSELF in the leg. The man spent two years in prison, lost over 10 million dollars, for shooting himself in the leg.

I was actually really surprised how well he played considering he just spent two years in a cell.

Not as impressed with Jackson’s beast mode though!

by gentryholdem on Jan 25, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

It’s a lot like Vick. In my personal opinion, both guys payed their debt to society, they served their punishment.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

Actually Plexico got a pretty raw deal considering he was the only victim of his crime. I think it was pretty obvious NYC was making an example of him. If he played in Houston the most time he would have spent would have been a night in the hospital.

by HenryDawg on Jan 25, 2012 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. They pretty much came out and said they were making an example of him. If you go back and read quotes of Bloomberg, he pretty much said this (I would look it up right now, but I am watching original cast of Sweeney Todd and It has all of my attention).

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
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by bross09 on Jan 25, 2012 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

What Vick did is a lot worse than what Plaxico did. By far. Having said that, i agree that both men paid their debts to society and we can move on.

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by TheDriveStillHurts on Jan 26, 2012 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

Not related to this- while I believe it is a shame this situation- but I just read that Grossi’s reign of terror spreading as the browns beat writer for the PD is over. PD has not confirmed…

by -bobby- on Jan 25, 2012 3:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Yep saw that too, because he tweeted about lerner last week: " That Lerner was pathetic and the most irrelevant billionaire on the planet."

Grossi to start covering the Cavs? He is still with PD but not covering Browns…more to follow i assume.

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Jan 25, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

He can cover the Cavs all he wants. May not work for you guys but I’m happy with him staying away from my Browns.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

At least with the cavs there are decent writers to cover up for him.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 25, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

It’s fine to discuss things you don’t agree with, but to be a complete ass all the time is uncalled for. My guess is he felt like he was on a pedestal and untouchable.
Bye bye to romance.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 25, 2012 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

Rec for even suggestig it.

by SBP on Jan 25, 2012 3:47 PM EST reply actions

That was to -bobby-

by SBP on Jan 25, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

D’Qwell Jackson was snubbed for the Pro Bowl, and now he’s snubbed for this.

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by Heavysoviet on Jan 25, 2012 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Agree that coming back from a prison sentence is not the kind of comeback I think of when we talk about comeback player. Injury, illness, or the like.

That said, I cannot agree with equating Burress with Vick. Burress’s wrong-doing shouldn’t even have been a felony and even if it was, it should have got probation. Vick, on the other hand, engaged in illegal conduct, willfully, over a long period of time. Moreover, the conduct is loathsome, immoral, and disgusting. I agree he paid his debt to society and I am not against him playing in the NFL, but I would never have given Vick an award for comeback player of the year.

by JamesPowell on Jan 25, 2012 8:01 PM EST reply actions