Manning named NFL Comeback Player of the Year

The National Football League is relaxing rules to encourage more crowd noise in stadiums this season.

NEW ORLEANS – Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been named Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year.

Manning received 31.5 of the 50 votes for the award at the second annual NFL Honors in New Orleans Saturday night.

He is the first Bronco to be named AP Comeback Player of the Year, and joins Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith as the only two players to ever receive the award while also being named first-team All-Pro.

Manning came in second to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in the 2012 MVP voting by a margin of 30.5-19.5. This is the quarterback’s eighth season finishing in the top three for the award.