Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos makes a touchdown catch against cornerback Darrelle Revis the New York Jets at INVESCO Field at Mile High. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The 2011 season has wrapped up for the Denver Broncos and we will soon be gearing up for the events leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine set for the end of February and eventually the 2012 NFL Draft near the end of April. Still, we haven't had complete closure here on Mile High Report. In the coming weeks, we will take a look at each position in review and looking forward. Meanwhile, I am proposing a series of Bronco player awards as voted upon by the members here at MHR. We can begin with the Broncos 2011 Comeback Player Of The Year.
Defensive EndElvis Dumervil would be the first name I'd think of when talking about having a comeback year in 2011. 2009 saw Elvis attain a franchise record 17 Sacks on the year, becoming the first Bronco in team history to lead the league in that category. He deservedly made the Pro Bowl and was named 1st Team All-Pro that season. But then Elvis left the building. He missed the entire 2010 season with a torn pectoral muscle suffered during training camp. Dumervil returned to the field and battled multiple injuries early in 2011, but his perseverance paid off as he became just the seventh NFL player since 2000 to make the Pro Bowl after missing the previous season due to injury or illness.
Doom was named to his second career Pro Bowl this year after finishing the 2011 season second on the Broncos and tied for eighth in the AFC with 9.5 sacks. At San Diego this season, he recorded his 14th career 2+ sack game, ranking him tied for third in the NFL since his rookie season in 2006. He also had a personal-best eight-game stretch (Games 8-15) this year in which he recorded at least a half sack. Dumervil's season totals include 43 Tackles, 10 Tackles For Loss, 18 Quarterback Hits, 1 Pass Break Up and 1 Fumble Recovery.
The Broncos totaled 41 sacks during the 2011 season, representing an 18-sack improvement from last year and the most by the club since totaling 44 sacks in 2000. Part of that is simply because Elvis has returned for an encore.
Wide receiverDemaryius Thomasshould be in the discussion for the Broncos Comeback Player of the Year as well. Selected by the Broncos in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, Thomas missed the season opener at Jacksonville with a foot injury that had sidelined him the entire preseason. Then he was Inactive during Games 11-15 due to a concussion and high ankle sprain. Demaryius ended up playing in 10 games (2 starts) as a rookie, finishing sixth on the Broncos with 22 receptions for 283 yards (12.9 avg.) with two touchdowns. He also ranked second on the team with 16 kickoff returns for 398 yards (24.9 avg.) and added three Special-Teams Tackles.
During the offseason, Demaryius' injury history had another setback when he ruptured the Achilles tendon on his right foot in February while doing lateral drills. The injury was supposed to take 10-12 months to heal, but Thomas rehabbed and recovered quicker than anticipated. He started 2011 on the Non-Football Injury list after failing his physical at the onset of Training Camp. The team chose to place him on the 53-man Roster, thinking he would be available before Week 6. However, a few days later, Bay Bay suffered a broken finger in a practice session after CB Champ Bailey broke up a pass that struck Thomas square on his left pinkie. Yet another surgery was required to insert a pin in the broken digit. Demaryius finally made his 2011 season debut after the Bye week in Miami and caught Denver’s first touchdown pass of the day, a diving grab on a ball thrown by QB Tim Tebow that withstood an officials’ review.
He totaled a career-high 144 receiving yards on four catches (36.0 avg.) with two touchdowns against Minnesota in Week 13. His 36.0-yard average marked the fourth-highest figure in franchise history (min. 4 rec.) and the highest since Steve Watson (36.4 avg.) in 1981. Thomas went on to lead the Broncos in receiving yards in each of the final seven games of the season (including the postseason). During that span, he averaged 106.4 receiving yards per game.
Demaryius snagged 25 catches for 448 yards (17.9 avg.) with three touchdowns in Denver’s final five games, which ranks second in team history during the last month of a season (Dec./Jan.). Then there was his Postseason debut. The 2nd-year Wide Receiver dominated in Denver’s 29-23 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round with a four-catch, 204-yard performance, including an 80-yard game-winning touchdown reception on the first play of overtime.
Those 204 receiving yards set a mark as the most by a Bronco in postseason history and was the 7th most in NFL playoff history. His 51.0 receiving average also stands as the 2nd-highest receiving average in any NFL game (min. 4 rec.).
These two Broncos have been through a Trial by Fire and have emerged on the other side. Let's just hope that their good health continues so they can be productive.
That’s good enough for me. You know who’s name I heard more of over the course of the season? I’ll give you one guess.. it wasn’t Doom. As far as the defense goes, it was all about Von Miller until he got hurt. If not for Thomas and his heroics (late season at least) we wouldn’t have even been in the playoffs. This is just MPO, no need to try to change my mind as I’m not trying to change yours.
He was a first round pick, he had built in expectations. He didn’t meet or exceed them until this season. Why? Because he was hurt, as we all know. Therefore, he has come back – from inury, to produce at a high level. After all, inury is the same reason, I believe, that Doom is getting the love for being CPOY, or am I missing something?
Dumervil was an all-pro who missed an entire season and came back to pro-bowl level, Thomas was an underperforming rookie who lost an offseason and some games the majority of which everybody missed due to labor disputes and he came back to be an average sophomore WR? how is this a competition.
• at Miami (10/23): Saw his first action of the season after a suffering a broken finger during practice that sidelined him for Denver’s first five games…Led the Broncos in receptions, and caught Denver’s first touchdown pass of the day, a diving grab on a ball thrown by QB Tim Tebow that withstood an officials’ review.
• at Oakland (11/6): Caught a 29-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow in the third quarter that marked Denver’s longest pass play of the day and third-longest play from scrimmage.
• vs. N.Y. Jets (11/17): Hauled in a 28-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow on the first play of the game. The completion represented Denver’s longest play from scrimmage.
• at Minnesota (12/4): Totaled a career-high 144 receiving yards (36.0 avg.) and two touchdowns…His 36.0-yard average marked the fourth-highest figure by a player in a victory in Week 13, and his two receiving touchdowns tied for most in the NFL in Week 13… His final reception, a 40-yard catch with 2:51 remaining in the game, set up K Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal… Hauled in a career-long 42-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter that set up RB Willis’ McGhee’s game-tying 24-yard touchdown run…Totaled three catches of 40-yards or longer, one of which went for a touchdown.
• vs. Chicago (12/11): Led the Broncos in receiving for the second consecutive week and caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season… Made an acrobatic catch for 16 yards in overtime that led to K Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal.
• vs. New England (12/18): Led the Broncos in receptions and receiving yards for the third consecutive week and recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season…His 39-yard reception on third down in the fourth quarter marked Denver’s longest play from scrimmage.
• at Buffalo (12/24): Led the Broncos in receptions (4) and receiving yards (76) for the fourth straight week…For the second consecutive week, he turned in Denver’s longest play from scrimmage, a 47-yard reception in the fourth quarter. The play also represents the longest reception of his career.
• vs. Kansas City (1/1)L Led the Broncos in receptions (3) and receiving yards (34) for the fifth straight week , and his 17-yard reception in the second quarter marked Denver’s longest play from scrimmage of the afternoon.
2011 Postseason Highlights:
• vs. Pittsburgh (1/8): Set a franchise postseason record with 204 receiving yards in his NFL postseason debut. The total also marks the seventh-most receiving yards in a postseason game in NFL history and stands as Thomas’ career high (regular season and postseason)…His 80-yard touchdown reception in overtime represents the longest overtime scoring play in NFL postseason history…Led the Broncos with four receptions.
Many were calling him a bust and McBath 2.0 with all of his injuries. He came on in a big way in the 2nd half of the season. It was worth having him on the pup and taking up a roster spot
Then prove people wrong,but that doesn’t mean you “came back” from anything. Elvis by a long shot as he produced in a major way, was completely gone for a year, then came back as a major contributor.
Comeback of the Year could be a lot of different things, such as performance, injuries etc...
The mere fact that DT came back at all was short of being a miracle if you consider the injury. A torn pec is a lot slighter than a torn Achilles tendon…
Elvis Dumervil did his job as he was supposed to do after missing the entire 2010 season...
Demaryius Thomas on the other hand came off an injury that usually takes a full year to heal and had an outstanding 2nd half of the season. Comeback Player of the Year goes to DT…
At least I recall in the last couple of years that he wasn’t able to hit clutch field goals, and his inability to hit anything from 40-49 yards. This season, he seems to have been able to improve on that. Yes, he only had 3 FGs between 40-49, but he was money throughout our stretch of wins, and didn’t let the Steelers game get to him either.
There were many people on here writing him off as a bust part way through the season. Now I think the majority thinks we have a true #1 heading into 2012. The guy came back early from a Torn Achilles, Shattered his finger, and came back had a productive year in a tough offense, and had the one of the most memorable plays in franchise history
He “came back” from a bad coach playing him out of position,as well as hurt feelings from being called a bust. Ayers & Thomas had breakout seasons,not really comebacks. Elvis came back,as he was NFL productive before his injury, & after his return
You could easily do DOOM as well! They both came back from horrible injuries! DT I think gets the nod simply for really standing out the last few weeks with a pretty poor showing from the WR position as a whole.
Doom didn’t have that great of a year, especially compared to his sack leading year before he was injured. Not to say that he didn’t have an impact and doesn’t deserve the award, this is just my opinion.
Let me offer an MHR analogy. ejruiz was a contributor, then went into hiatus and recently came back and contributed again. But we have a few new posters offering their opinion and analysis in the FanPosts as well. They didn’t come back – they just started their MHR membership recently.
Thomas hands down.
postpunk27 - January 18, 2012
to be comeback player...
don’t you have to come from something? Elvis led the league in sacks, then missed the whole season. DT hasn’t had a good year until now.
Mike Agnew - January 18, 2012
This
Bronco Rob - January 18, 2012
Totally
Elvis was there before. One of the star players. Demaryius hasn’t been a star player in the NFL, until this year.
PearlJamBroncoGFunk - January 18, 2012
He was a first rounder with high expectations.
That’s good enough for me. You know who’s name I heard more of over the course of the season? I’ll give you one guess.. it wasn’t Doom. As far as the defense goes, it was all about Von Miller until he got hurt. If not for Thomas and his heroics (late season at least) we wouldn’t have even been in the playoffs. This is just MPO, no need to try to change my mind as I’m not trying to change yours.
postpunk27 - January 19, 2012
Hey Kap, shouldn't it be Thomas was Inactive through games 1-5, not 11-15...
Because I remember him being pretty effective at the end of the year ;)
Automatik41 - January 18, 2012
nvm misread the sentence you got it right
Automatik41 - January 18, 2012
2010 defense..(Meh)
to 2011 defense. No contest who made the most impact, Doom.
bleedbroncos - January 18, 2012
I went with DOOM
as DT was injured, but never really a factor before, ergo, nothing to came back from.
firstfan - January 18, 2012
I went with DT,
But how is McGahee not the hands down winner? I understand that he wasn’t a Bronco last year but he was still in the NFL
TennesseeBronco - January 18, 2012
I agree with this
the Ravens thought he couldn’t produce anymore, the one mistake Ozzie Newsome has ever made
the new Bradfather - January 18, 2012
He was used in a different way in Baltimore behind Ray Rice.
Instead of a short yardage back Fox used him as the feature back…
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
I completely agree with this
he went from being second string to being AFC probowl player and having an awesome year even while missing time.
I don’t see how DT can get any vote here. Doom makes sense but hands down, McGahee for me.
GreasyQtip - January 18, 2012
McGahee should be on the list at least...
but Elvis was on top of the world and then fell off a cliff. He started slow, then turned on the jets late in the season.
Mike Agnew - January 18, 2012
I have McGahee selected for another spot TennesseeBronco
KaptainKirk - January 18, 2012
Had to go with Doom
To be a Comeback Player you had to play at a high level before, DT hasn’t done that yet.
Topher Doll - January 18, 2012
I disagree.
He was a first round pick, he had built in expectations. He didn’t meet or exceed them until this season. Why? Because he was hurt, as we all know. Therefore, he has come back – from inury, to produce at a high level. After all, inury is the same reason, I believe, that Doom is getting the love for being CPOY, or am I missing something?
postpunk27 - January 19, 2012
*injury. Meh, typos.
postpunk27 - January 19, 2012
Really? Thomas?
What did he come back to?
Dumervil was an all-pro who missed an entire season and came back to pro-bowl level, Thomas was an underperforming rookie who lost an offseason and some games the majority of which everybody missed due to labor disputes and he came back to be an average sophomore WR? how is this a competition.
How is Mcgahee not in this debate?
gyldenlove - January 18, 2012
Under performing? He was drafted with a foot injury and reinjured himself during a game.
What little contribution he did have was pretty good not playing as long as he did.
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
He came back FROM a torn achilles tendon and a shattered finger
waterboy31321 - January 18, 2012
and he still runs swiftly, Demaryius=#stud
the new Bradfather - January 18, 2012
To answer your question, only this:
2011 Highlights:
• at Miami (10/23): Saw his first action of the season after a suffering a broken finger during practice that sidelined him for Denver’s first five games…Led the Broncos in receptions, and caught Denver’s first touchdown pass of the day, a diving grab on a ball thrown by QB Tim Tebow that withstood an officials’ review.
• at Oakland (11/6): Caught a 29-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow in the third quarter that marked Denver’s longest pass play of the day and third-longest play from scrimmage.
• vs. N.Y. Jets (11/17): Hauled in a 28-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow on the first play of the game. The completion represented Denver’s longest play from scrimmage.
• at Minnesota (12/4): Totaled a career-high 144 receiving yards (36.0 avg.) and two touchdowns…His 36.0-yard average marked the fourth-highest figure by a player in a victory in Week 13, and his two receiving touchdowns tied for most in the NFL in Week 13… His final reception, a 40-yard catch with 2:51 remaining in the game, set up K Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal… Hauled in a career-long 42-yard pass from QB Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter that set up RB Willis’ McGhee’s game-tying 24-yard touchdown run…Totaled three catches of 40-yards or longer, one of which went for a touchdown.
• vs. Chicago (12/11): Led the Broncos in receiving for the second consecutive week and caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season… Made an acrobatic catch for 16 yards in overtime that led to K Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal.
• vs. New England (12/18): Led the Broncos in receptions and receiving yards for the third consecutive week and recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season…His 39-yard reception on third down in the fourth quarter marked Denver’s longest play from scrimmage.
• at Buffalo (12/24): Led the Broncos in receptions (4) and receiving yards (76) for the fourth straight week…For the second consecutive week, he turned in Denver’s longest play from scrimmage, a 47-yard reception in the fourth quarter. The play also represents the longest reception of his career.
• vs. Kansas City (1/1)L Led the Broncos in receptions (3) and receiving yards (34) for the fifth straight week , and his 17-yard reception in the second quarter marked Denver’s longest play from scrimmage of the afternoon.
2011 Postseason Highlights:
• vs. Pittsburgh (1/8): Set a franchise postseason record with 204 receiving yards in his NFL postseason debut. The total also marks the seventh-most receiving yards in a postseason game in NFL history and stands as Thomas’ career high (regular season and postseason)…His 80-yard touchdown reception in overtime represents the longest overtime scoring play in NFL postseason history…Led the Broncos with four receptions.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/Demaryius-Thomas/a951744a-72dd-4748-a461-02fc06668e12
9798 - January 19, 2012
Bey Bey by a long shot
Many were calling him a bust and McBath 2.0 with all of his injuries. He came on in a big way in the 2nd half of the season. It was worth having him on the pup and taking up a roster spot
Calikula - January 18, 2012
That peckerwood isn't even on our team Cal...I voted for Bay Bay!
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
Yup. Same here
Calikula - January 18, 2012
Sorry,you can b called a bust
Then prove people wrong,but that doesn’t mean you “came back” from anything. Elvis by a long shot as he produced in a major way, was completely gone for a year, then came back as a major contributor.
Mike@4th&99 - January 18, 2012 via iPhone app
Comeback of the Year could be a lot of different things, such as performance, injuries etc...
The mere fact that DT came back at all was short of being a miracle if you consider the injury. A torn pec is a lot slighter than a torn Achilles tendon…
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
people come back from inuries every year in the NFL
I truly believe comeback player means you did something before, then didn’t (injury or sucking), and then you did. Check NFL winners.
DT is just a player starting out… no comeback to greatness
GreasyQtip - January 18, 2012
he came back from a worse injury than Elvis did
waterboy31321 - January 18, 2012
Demaryius is only going to get better
love ya Bay Bay!
the new Bradfather - January 18, 2012
I'm glad you got his nick name right, half the folks around here don't even know the history around Bay-Bay's name...
They keep calling him that idiot in Oakland…
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
I thought its bay with an e not an a
Must google search
Calikula - January 18, 2012
I'm a copy editor, I have to know :)
the new Bradfather - January 18, 2012
Elvis Dumervil did his job as he was supposed to do after missing the entire 2010 season...
Demaryius Thomas on the other hand came off an injury that usually takes a full year to heal and had an outstanding 2nd half of the season. Comeback Player of the Year goes to DT…
bfree2bronc - January 18, 2012
Exactly.
But if I’ve learned anything from this post, it’s this. WE WILL FIGHT ABOUT ANYTHING.
“No, it’s BEY BEY!!!” “NOOO, IT’S DOOM!!!” hahaha
postpunk27 - January 19, 2012
COMEBACK player would be Elvis
BREAKOUT player would be Demaryius.
Tim Lynch - January 18, 2012
This
Mike@4th&99 - January 18, 2012 via iPhone app
+1
Timimus - January 18, 2012
What’s McGahee then?
GreasyQtip - January 18, 2012
Team MVP
Mike@4th&99 - January 18, 2012 via iPhone app
well said
got to stop fumbling though
Mike Agnew - January 18, 2012
I agree with this completely
Mike Agnew - January 18, 2012
I think Matt Prater deserves this award.
At least I recall in the last couple of years that he wasn’t able to hit clutch field goals, and his inability to hit anything from 40-49 yards. This season, he seems to have been able to improve on that. Yes, he only had 3 FGs between 40-49, but he was money throughout our stretch of wins, and didn’t let the Steelers game get to him either.
Thnikkaman - January 18, 2012
Demaryius Thomas
There were many people on here writing him off as a bust part way through the season. Now I think the majority thinks we have a true #1 heading into 2012. The guy came back early from a Torn Achilles, Shattered his finger, and came back had a productive year in a tough offense, and had the one of the most memorable plays in franchise history
waterboy31321 - January 18, 2012
What am I missing here!
WILLIS MCGAHEE
unless I am missing something about the rules this is easily McGahee for me, he could be the NFL comeback player of the year.
Hands down McGahee, DT came back from nothing… he is on his way up. Doom is a great choice if WM wasn’t here!
GreasyQtip - January 18, 2012
Yeah this should be between Dumervil and McGahee
Timimus - January 18, 2012
How about Robert Ayers?
He “came back” from a bad coach playing him out of position,as well as hurt feelings from being called a bust. Ayers & Thomas had breakout seasons,not really comebacks. Elvis came back,as he was NFL productive before his injury, & after his return
Mike@4th&99 - January 18, 2012 via iPhone app
again I would say, a very improved player, maybe most improved, but hardly a comeback. He hadn’t done anything to come back too.
GreasyQtip - January 18, 2012
I voted DT but...
You could easily do DOOM as well! They both came back from horrible injuries! DT I think gets the nod simply for really standing out the last few weeks with a pretty poor showing from the WR position as a whole.
Doom didn’t have that great of a year, especially compared to his sack leading year before he was injured. Not to say that he didn’t have an impact and doesn’t deserve the award, this is just my opinion.
RebelChris - January 18, 2012
Clady or McGahee
both are back in the pro bowl after missing it for several years.
B_B - January 18, 2012
Clady didn't deserve the pro bowl.
it should have been Kuper
Mike Agnew - January 18, 2012
Agree. Too bad Kuper wouldn't be able to go anyway. We need him badly for 2012
si_ice - January 18, 2012
DT has not come back, Elvis has
Let me offer an MHR analogy. ejruiz was a contributor, then went into hiatus and recently came back and contributed again. But we have a few new posters offering their opinion and analysis in the FanPosts as well. They didn’t come back – they just started their MHR membership recently.
si_ice - January 18, 2012
Two players hands down..Willis McGahee and Ryan Clady
Elvis and DT are decent but with out these two, Tim would have never seen the field.
2011 Bronco MVP is also Willis McGahee, no body close.
DLMyers - January 18, 2012
Meh
I think it’s close. Witnessing our secondary without Dawkins in there makes me think he was pretty valuable.
eastCOrange&Blue - January 19, 2012
My vote is McGahee
DT is not a comeback player. Neither honestly is Doom. Injuries and rookies are not “comebacks”.
yibberat - January 20, 2012
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