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On Saturday night in Indianapolis, the inaugural NFL Honors show was held. It was essentially the NFL version of the Oscars, and for the Detroit Lions, quarterback Matthew Stafford, head coach Jim Schwartz and former running back Barry Sanders were in attendance.
Stafford was at the show in part because he was a finalist for the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Deion Sanders, Steve Young and Jerry Rice presented the award and made the announcement that Stafford was the winner for 2011.
After coming back from injuries in his first two seasons in the NFL, Stafford put together a tremendous junior campaign that saw him rewrite the Lions record book for passing-related stats. It's no surprise he won the award, and it is well-deserved. Of course, let's hope it's the last time he's in contention for it, as Jim Schwartz suggested on Twitter after the show.
And congratulations to Matt Stafford on his first (and last) NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
— Jim Schwartz (@jschwartzlions) February 5, 2012
Schwartz was up for the NFL Coach of the Year award, but that went to San Francisco 49ers head coach (and noted handshake enemy) Jim Harbaugh.
The Lions did have somebody other than Stafford receive an award, as wide receiver Calvin Johnson was named the NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year.