Over the past few years, the NFL has witnessed some remarkable comeback stories. In 2022, Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks proved his critics wrong, followed by Joe Flacco coming out of retirement to lead the Cleveland Browns the following year, making everyone reassess his legacy.

Both players received the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year Award, but a new clarification in the voting process could make them ineligible in the future.

The AP recently outlined clear criteria for voting on the award that is expected to have a significant impact. According to Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, a player’s previous poor performance will no longer be a determining factor for the award.

“The spirit of the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award is to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury, or other circumstances that kept them from playing the previous season,” according to AP senior NFL writer Rob Maaddi, who oversees All-Pro and NFL awards voting.

This change may come too late for those who bet on Damar Hamlin last year, but it eliminates several potential contenders for the 2024 award, such as Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and Mac Jones.

Players like Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins, and Anthony Richardson, who missed significant time last season, now seem to have more value as top contenders for the award.

Although Kyler Murray returned from injury in the middle of the 2023 season, Maaddi stated that voting for the Arizona Cardinals QB for CPOY in 2024 would align with the award’s spirit.

At BetMGM, Murray is considered the biggest liability to win Comeback Player of the Year, with a significant percentage of bets and handle. Darnold and Russell Wilson also have notable percentages of bets and handle.

As bettors prepare for the upcoming season, it is crucial to understand the true definition of a comeback. And maybe the voters can also clarify what “MVP” truly means in the future.