Last season, New England Patriot’s Linebacker Tedy Bruschi was activated, and started his season, in late October He was sidelined indefinitely, and some thought permanently, by a stroke he had suffered in February. He finished the season with 60 tackles and 2 sacks, fairly average numbers for him. In early January, Bruschi was awarded the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award, (shared with Steve Smith). By giving the Comeback Player of the Year award to Bruschi, the Associated Press has now set a precedent, taking an honor normally reserved for the player that comes back from a disappointing season (either by injury or by low quality play) to shine in his next season, and defining it as the player that plays at an average level after suffering a serious injury. 
Now of course, you Seahawks fans can see where I’m headed with this.
Last season, after defeating the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, Ken Hamlin made the questionable decision to celebrate in the notoriously dangerous Larry’s Nightclub, in the equally dangerous Pioneer’s Square area of downtown Seattle. While the details surrounding the events are fuzzy, the final result is not. Hamlin was hit in the head with a magnetic street sign. He was sent to the hospital in critical condition with a fractured skull, a blood clot, and bruising of the brain. He remained in ICU for 3 days, and until recently, had not stepped on a football field since. He has started training, and doctors have released him to play this coming season for the Seahawks.
Many will argue that the injury to Hamlin was his own fault. Many will argue that Eagles DE Jerome McDougal might deserve the award just as much for being shot in the stomach. But in my mind, barring a statistical setback, if Ken Hamlin steps on the football field after suffering a fractured skull and brain damage, the choice for the Comeback Player of the Year award is obvious.
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Welcome back Hammer...
ReplyDeleteit would be cool if he could get that award but to be honest i could care less about it. I just hope that the Hammer can return and play up to his normal level. He looked great last year before getting injured especially in the ATL game.
ReplyDeleteP.S the AP hates us and probably doesn't give a rats ass if Hamlin plays or not at all.
Like the post, Paulie...the hammer picture looks eeriely similar to the one I edited with a seahawk head instead of the typical hammerhead...
ReplyDelete...im just happy hes alive, and he gets to play again? Thats awesome...really, this didn't get nearly enough media attention...im actually very disappointed in ESPN; NFL.com, SI, and Fox Sports for not getting into this much...of course we all know why, but still...not saying I want it to be noticed, I just feel it would be a nice reminder to players, and particularly college players about to make the jump...
He says he doesnt think he'll hesitate when he goes full contact...but with a torn ACL...i definitely hesitated diving and stuff...not on purpose, just for some reason I couldnt do it (ive made a full recovery)...my point is, his injury was way worse...and I imagine he will hesitate a few times...hopefully he gets over that during TC and not let it carry into the season.
He wont win Comeback Player Of The Year because he is a Seahawk. I know its old hearing that about everything...but until I see it...its not happening.
I think last year changed that though. The superbowl appearance and the MVP award changes everything.
ReplyDeleteThat hammer wasn't even nominated!
ReplyDeleteHere's that image, adp, out of this thread.
ReplyDeletekinda cheesy looking at it again lol...very similar though...not many silver hammers out there.
ReplyDeleteand Paulie...look how we lost the super bowl ;)...i believe we wont be ignoreed as much...but we'll prolly still get bashed
OK, I've been hanging around lawyers too long, because as these are the mental notes recorded as I read this post:
ReplyDeleteWhile the details surrounding the events are fuzzy, the final result is not. Hamlin was hit in the head with a magnetic street sign.
That should be allegedly hit in the head and it's still not known for certain that it was with a magnetic street sign.
He remained in ICU for 3 days, and until recently, had not stepped on a football field since. He has started training, and doctors have released him to play this coming season for the Seahawks.
To be perfectly accurate, Mr. Hamlin was spotted on the cheering on the sidelines during the playoff games with the Redskins and the Panthers, and as such would have had to "step on a football field" to get there.
(now I know why everyone hates lawyers!!!)
Good point about the Comeback Player Award, although setting ourselves up for disappointment this early in the season may lend credence to the chip on the shoulder that Seahawks fans are said to carry!
My guess is that since the Seahawks did not WIN the Superbowl, since Hamlin wasn't shown cavorting with his children on the playing field prior to the Superbowl, and since John Madden has never performed oral sex on Ken Hamlin repeatidly during MNF broadcasts, there will be no CPY award for the Hammer. (actually, the events leading to his injury and the unresolved court cases surrounding it may be enough for the NFL not to showcase his return)
That all being said, I'm with the other posters here that all I care about is A) he's leads a long, healthy and otherwise normal life and B) he's in our defensive backfield headhunting and laying Donte Stallwarth like hits on folks again!
Paulie, Bruschi may have played at an "average" level statistically, but he definitely played a huge role on a team that made the playoffs. The Pats' defense was a sieve throughout the first part of the season, and the return of Bruschi to the ILB position, where he's the team's most adept player at reading offensive sets, did much to shore up a poor defense, allowing the Pats to enjoy a second-half resurgence. Factor in the fact that he's also a clubhouse leader and a symbol of the Pats' dynasty (I use the term loosely), and he was certainly deserving of the award.
ReplyDeleteAs for Hamlin, I think it would be wise for us to have some healthy expectations management. There's a huge IF surrounding the level of Hammer's play that may or may not make the media bias relevant. I'm happy with whatever contribution he can make to the team for another deep playoff run, and with the selection of Shaun as MVP in a deep field of worthy candidates should temper our crowing about post-season awards.
Good post, though I think its a bit early to say there's a clear choice for Comeback player of the Year. If Hamlin plays well, he'll gain consideration for it. I agree with adp. I'm just happy he's playing again and will be there.
ReplyDeleteAnd please, don't just assume we will be ignored either. Keep in mind the MVP is Shaun Alexander (and if memory serves me correctly, this choice was ripped by the national media. Around the Horn had all four of its panelists tout another candidate after the award was given out.) We have been ignored in the past, and that was the result of the deadly combination of being in the middle of nowhere (compared to other large cities, esp. NFL cities) and being mediocre. I believe I've called Seattle the perennial 8-8 team (maybe not here, but elsewhere).
But, the times, they are a changing. And if Hamlin plays well this season, it should change even more.