Nov 3, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is one of the five players nominated for Comeback Player of the Year honors, but he does not exactly think he deserves the honor.
In an appearance on “The Zach Gelb Show” on CBS Sports Radio, Flacco dismissed his worthiness of the honor, particularly compared with fellow nominee Damar Hamlin. Flacco joked that the only thing he was coming back from was “being old.”
“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
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) January 26, 2024
“I don’t necessarily know what I’m coming back from. I would say most of the guys on that list, I’m not sure what we’re coming back from,” Flacco said. “It’s a cool group to be a part of, that’s for sure, but … I’m just coming back from being old and not being on a team for a couple months.”
Flacco openly suggested that Hamlin should win the award, citing the effort the Buffalo Bills safety put in both physically and mentally to return to game action after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field last Jan. 2. Hamlin is viewed as the overwhelming favorite to win the award.
To be fair, Flacco’s career looked over earlier this year, but he guided the Browns to the playoffs and potentially even a role next year after essentially being signed off the street. His case would be a compelling one in many other years, but he is correct that it does not look like much compared to Hamlin’s journey.