Brett Favre did not miss a game in his one season with the New York Jets in 2008 but the quarterback did struggle enough late in the year because of an injury that his play in 2009 with the Vikings earned him four votes for the Associated Press NFL comeback player of the year award.
New England quarterback Tom Brady, who suffered a knee injury in the opening quarter of 2008 and was lost for the year, won the honor by receiving 19 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters. Tampa Bay running back Carnell (Cadillac) Williams finished second with 14 votes.
Tennessee quarterback Vince Young was third with seven votes and Favre and Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson got four votes apiece. New Orleans defensive end Anthony Hargrove got one vote.
Brady threw for 4,398 yards with 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 96.2 passer rating in starting all 16 games as the Patriots went 10-6 to win the AFC East title. Favre, who was slowed late last season by a partially torn biceps in his throwing arm, passed for 4,202 yards with 33 touchdowns, only seven interceptions and a 107.2 rating in 16 starts in leading the Vikings to a 12-4 record and the NFC North title.
The seven picks was Favre's fewest since he became a starting quarterback with the Green Bay Packers in 1992. Last season, he threw 22 with the Jets.
