Brady’s comeback as good as Wake’s?
Dolphins defensive end finishes only 8th in award voting.
Now, it can be revealed: Coming back from a torn Achille s i s as tough on a guy as coming back from a bruised ego.
Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake returned from a torn Achilles suffered while trying to sack the Patriots’ Tom Brady last season. Wake had 11.5 sacks, tying the most he has had over the past four years.
But when voting of NFL players for Comeback Player of the Year was announced by The Sporting News on T u e s d ay, Wake f i n i s h e d way down on the list. As expected, Packers receiver Jordy Nelson won.
Not so expected: Wake finished tied for eighth — with Brady. Huh? That would be the same To m B r a d y w h o h a s n ’ t missed a start since 2008 — with an asterisk. Brady was out the first four games of 2016 because of suspension for his role in Deflategate, which is where the sympathy votes came in.
Or: Perhaps players were swayed by that small cut Brady suffered on his thumb in preseason when he mishandled some scissors.
Or: Perhaps enough players saw a vote for Brady as a vote against unpopular commissioner Roger Goodell.
The players who finished ahead of Wake:
1. Jordy Nelson, Packers WR: Missed the 2015 season because of a preseason knee injury. Came back with 97 receptions for 1,254 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns.
2. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers RB: Off knee surgery, had 1,268 rushing yards, 75 receptions and nine total TDs from scrimmage.
3. Eric Berry, Chiefs S: Cancer survivor was Associated Press Comeback Player of Year last season and has been All-Pro the past two seasons.
4. Steve Smith, Ravens WR: Came back from torn Achilles. Had 70 receptions for 799 yards and five TDs.
5. Justin Houston, Chiefs LB: Rebounding from knee surgery. Was able to make just five starts this season.
6. Andrew Luck, Colts QB: Played only seven games last season because of a variety of injuries. Came back this season and was sacked 41 times, but still passed for 4,240 yards, 31 TDs, 13 interceptions and a 96.4 passer rating.
7. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks TE: Came back from torn patellar tendon to have 65 receptions, 923 yards and six TDs.