Browns’ Joe Flacco: Bills’ Damar Hamlin Should Win NFL Comeback Player of the Year
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Comeback Player of the Year finalist Joe Flacco is throwing his support behind another candidate to win the award.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin should receive the honor “for sure,” the Cleveland Browns quarterback said Friday on CBS Sports Radio’s “Zach Gelb Show.”
“I just think mentally to get yourself back to the point where you feel comfortable doing that kind of thing, obviously the physical part, you don’t need any explanation there, but I think mentally, to get yourself ready to go back out there, and feel good doing what we do, especially at his position, is pretty cool,” Flacco said.
Zach Gelb @ZachGelb
“I’m just coming back from being old and not being on a team for a couple months.”-@JoeFlacco
Joe Flacco says Damar Hamlin should win Comeback Player of the Year. @CBSSportsRadio @HamlinIsland pic.twitter.com/agmBivvBN5
Hamlin spent nine days in two hospitals after suffering cardiac arrest following a hit during a game in January 2023.
He appeared in three games this season, including last Sunday’s divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In total, he was part of 17 defensive snaps this season.
Flacco was nominated for the award after he went from being an unsigned free agent to a starting quarterback in the middle of the Cleveland Browns’ season.
He originally joined the Browns in November as a member of the practice squad before signing a one-year deal in December.
Flacco then led the team into the playoffs by passing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and a 4-1 record in five regular-season starts.
As Flacco, who turned 39 on Jan. 16, described it: “I’m just coming back from being old and not being on a team for a couple months.”
“I don’t necessarily know what I’m coming back from,” Flacco said. “I would say most of the guys on that list I’m not sure what we’re coming back from, so that’s probably my initial reaction,” later adding, “besides Damar.”
“Anytime you’re getting recognized in this league for playing well it can be flattering. It’s a cool group to be a part of, that’s for sure,” Flacco concluded.
Finalists for eight of The Associated Press’ 2023 NFL awards were announced Thursday.
Other finalists for the Comeback Player of the Year Award include Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The 2022 edition of the award went to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, who turned a one-year, $3.5 million contract into a starting role and his first career Pro Bowl appearance.
