Eric Berry named PFWA comeback player of the year

Eric Berry was honored for his inspiring comeback by being named PFWA comeback player of the year Friday afternoon.

Eric Berry is one of the most inspirational athletes in sports today.

He was honored for his courage by being named the PFWA comeback player of the year this afternoon. Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December of 2014, and was able to fight through the disease and play during the 2015 season. He not only played, but was elected to the Pro Bowl as well.

This award was a no-brainer, undoubtedly helped by the elite performance of Berry on the field this season. He finished the regular season with two interceptions, and had one in the playoff win over the Houston Texans – the franchise’s first postseason victory in 22 years.

His dominance on the field contributed to the Kansas City Chiefs being the seventh-overall defense in the NFL this past season.

One candidate whose name had been mentioned for the award was Adrian Peterson, but giving him the award over Berry, or giving it to him at all, would have been a horrible decision. He did play well this season, but the comeback player of the year should not go to someone who was out because of suspension.

The award belongs to an individual who displays a great deal of courage, and who fought back through tough circumstances to make it back onto the field and perform at a high level. Going to court to try to avoid jail time does not constitute courage in most definitions.

But we do not have to worry about the public relations disaster that would have been Peterson winning the award, because it went to someone who others can look up to and aspire to be like.

Being a professional athlete puts one in the spotlight, and Berry has shown that he deserves the recognition as one of the country’s best athletes.