The NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out after every season since 1972, except for 1985 when no winner was selected. The player named Comeback Player of the Year shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance. Garrison Hearst is the only player to have won the award twice (1995 and 2001).

So here we are in 2007 and there a few choices emerging already. The early favorite in many eyes is Randy Moss. He went from a dreaded situation in Oakland to one of the best teams in the league in New England.

Randy Moss has been lighting it up this year with the accurate passing of Tom Brady. The last time Moss was this effective was when he last played with Daunte Culpepper in Minnesota. Ironically the Oakland Raiders traded Moss shortly before signing Culpepper in Oakland. Maybe Al Davis wants to try to get another top 5 pick in next years draft.

Randy Moss so far in 2007 is leading the league in receiving yards with 779. Moss has already surpassed his 2006 total in only eight games. Moss has 11 TDs already which ties his last two seasons combined. Moss is one of the biggest reasons the Patriots are smashing every opponent on the way to their 8-0 record heading into Indianapolis. Randy Moss has become relevant again.

One other candidate that comes to mind is Kevin Jones of the Detroit Lions. He is coming back from a serious foot injury known as the Lis Franc injury. This injury is said to have a one year rehabilitation and Jones returned almost three months early. It was said he would go on the PUP list (physically unable to perform) to start the season, thus missing the first six weeks. The Lions decided to keep him off the list and let him come back and to get into game shape week-by-week.

Kevin Jones so far has started two games for the Lions and played in five. Jones has rushed 62 times for 272 yards averaging 4.4 yards per carry with four TDs. The workload keeps getting bigger each week for Jones and it only helps his team more. The Lions are currently 5-2.

Another player on the radar for comeback player of the year is Brett Favre who everyone said needs-to-retire two years ago and is now leading his team to a 6-1 start.