NFL Comeback Player Of The Year 2016: Top 10 Candidates
By Neal Lynch
1. QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
The embattled Cowboys signal-caller finally got off the .500 schneid in 2014, going 12-3 and earning a Pro Bowl nod. Romo completed a league-high 69.9 percent of passes and was tops in the NFL for yards per attempt (8.5), touchdown percentage (7.8%), QB rating (113.2), ESPN’s QBR (83.62), and game-winning drives (5). His QB rating also ranks sixth-highest all-time in the NFL.
Romo got off to a good start last season as he orchestrated a game-winning drive against the New York Giants in Week 1 and spearheaded Big D to a 13-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 before getting sacked by Jordan Hicks and breaking his collarbone. That setback forced Romo to miss the next seven games.
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The 12-year vet would return in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins and looked like a little rusty before re-injuring the collarbone and effectively ending his season in a Thanksgiving Day game against the eventual NFC Champion Carolina Panthers.
AP Writer Barry Wilner wrote that “Around Big D, folks fully believe Romo’s return to health will ensure the Cowboys’ return to the postseason.” ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes Romo will be the MVP of the NFC East, adding:
"“I predict the Cowboys quarterback bounces back from last season’s injuries and leads Dallas to a division title in a manner that looks a lot like his 2014 season…Ezekiel Elliott will only help with Romo’s protection and with diversifying the offense to take pressure off him.”"
NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha thinks Romo is the most impactful player returning from injury, stating:
"“It’s fair to say the Cowboys would’ve run away with the mediocre NFC East had they not been forced to use three different quarterbacks to replace their fallen star. Bring (Romo) back to an offense with highly accomplished pass catchers (Dez Bryant and Jason Witten), an exciting rookie running back (Ezekiel Elliott) and the best offensive line in football, and it’s hard to not see the Cowboys returning to the postseason.”"
Pro Football Focus ranked Romo as the fifth top candidate for Comeback Player of the Year:
"“Romo has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league the last five years, earning season grades that ranked 11th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and seventh from 2010–2014 before his injury-plagued season of 2015.”"
Romo has said he still wants to be playing football in 10 years, and the Dallas faithful would love to kick off that decade-long run with a Comeback Player of the Year effort and a Super Bowl ring. The Cowboys schedule is among the easiest in the league, so the opportunity is there for the taking.