The Top 10 Comeback Player of the Year Candidates

When the Titans first acquired Hope in 2006, he proved to be the play-making safety they hoped to get, having 121 tackles and five interceptions that season.

However, his 2007 campaign is one he would like to forget.

Hope had 49 tackles, his lowest since 2003, and two interceptions, his lowest since 2004. A major reason for this was a spinal cord injury that forced him to miss five games.

However, Hope has managed to stay healthy and has been a major facet of Tennessee's formidable defense this season. He is third on the team in tackles with 70 tackles and has accumulated four interceptions.

Out of all our candidates, Cassel has the longest layoff since his last era of prominence.

1999.

It has been nine years since the last time Matt Cassel was a starting quarterback, back at Chatsworth High School. He has backed up Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Tom Brady.

After Brady's knee injury in the first game of the season, Cassel was forced to step into the role as New England's starting quarterback and has played admirably.

He has 18 touchdowns, has thrown for 3270 yards, and has a quarterback rating of 87.1. Not only that, but he has shown dramatic poise in after being put in a situation that many would break down in.

The question for Patriot fans is what to do when the season ends and Brady is healthy again?

After bursting out of the gates with the New York Jets, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004 and making the Pro Bowl in 2005, injuries and a bad fit with the Jets' defensive scheme led to a poor 2007 campaign for Vilma.

The Jets realized that Vilma was not the guy for their 3-4 defensive scheme and traded him ("traded" being a nice term; they essentially gave him away) to the New Orleans Saints. What has he done since?

Nothing, except lead the Saints in tackles with 111 and having more tackles than anybody on the Jets. At this rate, Vilma will be back to the Pro Bowl in no time.

Brown's constant injuries have led many to question whether he would be an effective running back in the league. While this season hasn't silenced his critics, they aren't as loud now.

Brown's versatility has revitalized the Dolphins, forming their new "Wildcat" formation around him.

Brown has ran for over 800 yards in the first 14 games and has 10 rushing touchdowns, way more than he has had throughout his career. After an injury-laden 2007 season, Brown has shown why the Dolphins invested a No. 2 overall pick in him.

Julius Peppers has come full circle.

Once thought of as one of the best defensive ends in the league after seasons such as his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign and his 13 sack season in 2006, Peppers was considered a shell of his former self last season, accumulating a career-low 2.5 sacks and only 49 tackles. Many questioned whether this was just a bad season or a sign of things to come.

It's safe to say that it was just a bad season.

Through 14 games of the 2008 season, Peppers has collected 12.5 sacks (13 are his career high), and has been the leader of one of the best defensive teams in the league looking to gain position in the playoff race.

The 2007 Carolina Panthers were a team for the ages. Never has a single team shuffled through so many quarterbacks at one time.

First, mainstay Jake Delhomme had the spot. Then he injured his shoulder. Then, David Carr took the spot. But David Carr is god-awful. So, they pulled Vinny Testaverde off his couch and put him behind their center. But his age led to unsurprising injury.

So, after experimenting with Steve Smith, Mike Minter, Reggie Howard, Brad Hoover, John Fox, Jason Garrett, Mike Tirico, me, and Matt Lytle at starting quarterback, they settled for letting Matt Moore finish out this forgettable season.

Delhomme's shoulder required Tommy John surgery in the off-season and many questioned whether he would be as effective upon his return. However, Delhomme is having a personal Renaissance, helping the Panthers pass attack stay solid as their running game takes over.

He is an important leader in the Panthers locker room, so his sheer presence as an active player is an important factor in Carolina's dominating season.

This may be the first time that two players from the same team who play the same position are both in the running for Comeback Player of the Year.

Williams doesn't have stats that will blow you away, but just his return to becoming an effective NFL running back is remarkable.

After retiring in 2004 and being suspended for the 2006 season, Williams ran the ball one time last season before tearing his chest and being ruled out for the season.

While he hasn't put up the numbers he did in his prime, he has been an integral part of Miami's offense, and has had a rebirth both on and off the field.

With three players on this list, the Miami Dolphins may be called The Comebacks.

Pennington, left for dead on the side of the road by the Jets once they acquired Brett Favre, was picked up by the Dolphins weeks before the season started. Last season, he was pulled from the starting lineup for Kellen Clemens. Yeah, Kellen Clemens. Before that, he won the Comeback Player of the Year in 2006.

Pennington has been a great fit in Miami's offense, putting up far better numbers and leading his team to a better record than his Jets counterpart. Guess which of the two made the Pro Bowl? Alright, the tirade ends here.

Pennington has done a great job leading the Dolphins out of obscurity and back into respectability. The Jets may or may not regret letting him go, but they surely regret letting him go for nothing.

Of all the players on this list, Bryant is the only one who wasn't even in the league last season. Many doubted if he would ever play in the NFL again.

So far, he has career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Bryant has stepped up as a go-to receiver for Jeff Garcia and has formed a solid tandem with Ike Hilliard. Bryant's commitment and attitude have been questioned since his entry into the league, but he has shown great maturity this season and his production can not be denied.

Nothing short of amazing.

One of several "grey-beards" this season, along with Brett Favre and Kurt Warner (who didn't make this list due to his solid play in the second half of last season), Collins has had a football rebirth this year.

His journey that has led him to this point is remarkable and well-documented. One of the heart-warming stories of the NFL involves him having to deal with injury, alcoholism, the Oakland Raiders and benching.

His time as a starting quarterback looked to be finished, but he has stepped in admirably for Vince Young and helped lead the Titans to the top spot in the AFC.

It is unknown how the Titans would have done if they let Vince Young be the starting quarterback again once he was active again. They may have been just as good, maybe they would have been better, maybe they would be awful. But Collins provided consistency for the best team in the AFC and that is just what they needed.

And just what he has needed as well, making him the 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.