'Absurd!' Peter King Slams 'Ridiculous' Voters For Bills' Damar Hamlin Snub
Amidst a controversial NFL Honors awards show on Thursday, there was no award more controversial than Comeback Player of the Year.
Since he went into cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023, Hamlin was considered a near-lock to win Comeback Player of the Year this season. However, 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who was a free agent for most of the season before signing with the Cleveland Browns in late November, wound up winning the award after dominating headlines in the final month. Hamlin had 21 first-place votes to Flacco's 13, but lost 151-140 in total points.
In the days following the awards show, many pundits have voiced their disagreement over the voting results. Add Pro Football Talk's Peter King to that list.
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"It’s ridiculous that Joe Flacco, who came back from sitting on his couch for two-and-a-half months, won Comeback Player over Damar Hamlin, who came back from having to be resuscitated back to life on a football field last January," King wrote in his latest Football Morning in America column. "What’s stronger than ridiculous? Absurd? Okay. It was absurd."
"Eight voters did not have Hamlin in their top three Comeback candidates," King added. "I simply do not understand."
The point that many held against Hamlin was his lack of playing time this season, as he was active for just five games as mostly a special teams player. Meanwhile, Flacco revived the Browns' offense after several quarterback injuries, throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in just five games.
However, many still believe that Hamlin deserved the award after coming back from a near-death experience. The Pro Football Writers of America named him Comeback Player of the Year, and Flacco himself even campaigned for Hamlin to win it.
What's done is done, though, and no matter how much King and others dislike it, nothing can give Hamlin the award now unfortunately.
