Even Alex Smith was excited about his first season in Kansas City. (USATSI)
Even Alex Smith was excited about his first season in Kansas City. (USATSI)

Offensive rookie of the year | Defensive rookie of the year | Comeback player of the year | Disappointment of the year | Coach of the year | Defensive MVP | Offensive MVP

The case for Alex SmithAfter leading San Francisco to the NFC Championship game in 2011, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh thanked Alex Smith by benching him after Smith suffered a concussion in Week 10 of 2012. Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl and it was clear after the season was over that one of San Francisco's quarterbacks had to go. Smith was shipped off to Kansas City where he proved that he's one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. In leading the Chiefs to an 11-5 record, the eighth-year veteran registered career-highs in passing yards (3,313) and touchdown passes (23). 

The case against Alex Smith: If you like your comeback player of the year to return from gruesome injuries, then you can probably make a strong argument for both Darrelle Revis (torn ACL) and Brent Grimes (torn Achilles). Grimes, who suffered his Achilles tear with the Falcons in 2012, rehabbed his injury with a new team and ended up starting all 16 games in his first season with the Dolphins. Revis did the same thing in Tampa Bay. After being traded from New York, the 28-year-old fought back from a torn ACL and started all 16 games for the Buccaneers this season. 

'I didn't realize me winning the comeback player award over you was so funny Philip.' (USATSI)
'I didn't realize me winning the comeback player award over you was so funny Philip.' (USATSI)

Why Smith is our choice: All Smith did in Kansas City was completely revitalize a franchise that was left for dead after 2012. Smith and new coach Andy Reid took a team that went 2-14 and turned them into an 11-5 playoff team. You really can't ask for much more out of a quarterback who's in his first-year with a team.  

Will Smith win the hardware? It's hard to say if Smith will win the award because everyone has a different feeling about what constitutes a comeback player of the year. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers won the Pro Football Writers of America comeback award, although I'm still not sure what Rivers came back from. That's the problem  -- or the best part of the award, depending on your point of view -- there's no set criteria. Smith is probably the favorite, but don't be surprised if any of the top-5 players listed below end up winning it. 

Top-10 vote totals (first-place votes in parenthesis):

1. Chiefs QB Alex Smith 34 (2)

2. Buccaneers CB Darrelle Revis: 29 (1)

3. Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno: 26 (1)

4. Dolphins CB Brent Grimes: 24

5. Chargers QB Philip Rivers: 20 (1)

T-6. Eagles OL Jason Peter: 14 (1)

T-6. Chargers RB Ryan Mathews: 14

8. Panthers LB Thomas Davis: 8 (1)

T-9. Bills RB Fred Jackson: 7

T-9. Colts RB Donald Brown: 7

T-9 Bears QB Josh McCown: 7

Thanks to Alex Smith, only three Redskins fans stayed for the second half in Week 14. (CBS/NFL)
Thanks to Alex Smith, only three Redskins fans stayed for the second half in Week 14. (CBS/NFL)