Tag: award

Broncos CB Pat Surtain, KR Marvin Mims recognized by PFWA

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (All-AFC) and KR Marvin Mims (All-AFC, All-Rookie) were recognized by the PFWA following the 2023 season.

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) has announced its all-pro designations from the 2023 NFL season and two Denver Broncos players were recognized.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain made the All-AFC Team alongside New York Jets defensive back Sauce Gardner. Denver wide receiver Marvin Mims also made the All-AFC squad as the conference’s kick returner. Additionally, Mims made the All-Rookie Team as a returner.

Surtain (cornerback) and Mims (returner) were also named starters for the 2024 Pro Bowl after being elected by coaches, players and fans. Broncos safety Justin Simmons will also start for the AFC at the Pro Bowl.

Simmons and Mims were previously named to the Associated Press All-Pro squad as second-team players. Surtain was snubbed by AP All-Pro voters, but he did make the NFLPA’s All-Pro Team that was voted on by his peers.

Elsewhere, Denver fullback Michael Burton made the Pro Football Focus All-Pro Team and long snapper Mitchell Fraboni received second-team recognition from PFF.

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Caleb Downs recognized as the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year

Alabama Safety Caleb Downs recognized as the top freshman in the country

When you start to make your way down the list of all-time great Alabama running backs, it is just a matter of time until the legend [autotag]Shaun Alexander[/autotag] comes up. During three seasons of varsity football in high school, Alexander rushed for 6,657 yards and 110 touchdowns – both are still Top 10 all-time prep records. In his senior year, he was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Football” and was recruited to join the Tide by Gene Stallings and was one of the most highly sought-after recruits at the time.

Alexander redshirted in 1995 as a true freshman, however, he quickly burst onto the scene in 1996 as a redshirt freshman. Alexander put his name on the map in a crucial SEC showdown as he rushed for a school-record 291 yards and four touchdowns in a 26-0 victory over No. 11 LSU in Baton Rouge. Alexander posted career statistics of 727 carries for 3,565 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also had 62 career receptions for 798 yards and eight scores.

As a result of his success in college, the Seattle Seahawks used the No. 19 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft on the ‘Bama back. Alexander went on to be an NFL MVP and named to the 2000s All-Decade team among a laundry list of accolades.

As a result for the impact he left on the college game, the College Football Freshman Player of the Year award was renamed after Shaun Alexander in 2019 because of his remarkable freshman campaign and performance against LSU back in 1996.

This year, the winner of the award was Alabama DB [autotag]Caleb Downs[/autotag]. It is fitting for the award to head back to Tuscaloosa with Will Anderson being the winner back in 2020-2021. Even though he is only a freshman, people in the NFL have already taken notice of Downs and he is on a path to be the next great Alabama Safety like Minkah Fitzpatrick.

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Peyton Manning to receive 2024 Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award

Peyton Manning will receive the 2024 Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award, a well-deserved recognition for his PeyBack Foundation.

Peyton Manning, who won a Super Bowl championship with the Denver Broncos in 2015, has made a name off the football field. He has his own production company, Omaha Productions, and he has dabbled in various business projects. Now, he can add the Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award to his portfolio of accomplishments. The award highlights the recipient’s impact on the community at large.

“Peyton Manning’s impact on our community extends far beyond his incredible football career,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a press release. “His commitment to improving the lives of others has left a lasting impact on Colorado, and I am thrilled to celebrate his accomplishments with the Mizel Institute Community Enrichment Award. Congratulations, Peyton, and thank you for your efforts to better our state.”

Manning’s PeyBack Foundation has contributed to youth education, wellness, and leadership, so this award was well deserved. Congrats to Manning for this incredible award, highlighting his impact on the community.

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Broncos name RB Javonte Williams their 2023 Ed Block Courage Award winner

For his courage in the face of adversity, the Broncos named RB Javonte Williams their 2023 Ed Block Courage Award winner. Congrats, 33!

In an announcement in a team meeting this past Thursday (Dec. 7), Dennver Broncos running back Javonte Williams was named the team’s 2023 Ed Block Courage Award winner. Each year, the Ed Block Courage Award helps honor players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship. In Williams’s case, the selection process for him and other recipients came from their teammates for exceptional courage, great character, and inspiring effort.

Perhaps a bulk of the reason Williams got the nomination from his teammates is due to the resiliency he has displayed over the last year. Williams suffered a devastating injury in October of 2022, tearing the ACL and LCL in his right knee, which sidelined him for the rest of the 2022 NFL season. Williams’s hard work rehabbing his injury allowed him to return to the field this season.

The Ed Block Courage Award honors Ed Block, a longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, a pioneer in his profession, and a respected humanitarian. It became a league-wide initiative that was first awarded in 1984. Congrats to Williams for the well-deserved honor.

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Broncos nominate Garett Bolles for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

Congrats to Broncos LT Garett Bolles for being nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award!

The Denver Broncos named left tackle Garett Bolles the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee on Tuesday.

This is Bolles’ first nomination for the award, which is given annually to the player who displays excellence on and off the field. Bolles’ work with Colorado and Utah youth with learning disabilities and youth in Colorado detention centers among other community outreach highlights the leader he is on and off the field.

Bolles finds himself in great company, with several former Broncos teammates who have been recipients of the honor. In 1992, Denver Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway won the award; in 2005, fellow Hall of Famer Peyton Manning received the award as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and current Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson won the award during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.

Each nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award gets to wear a helmet decal for the rest of the season in recognition of the honor. Those who win the award, like Wilson, get to wear a jersey patch with a silhouette of the award.

Last year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won the award.

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Broncos kicker Lutz named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Congrats to Broncos kicker Wil Lutz for being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month!

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November on Thursday.

In the month of November, Lutz was clutch, as the Broncos won two games by three points or less. Lutz finished the month 11-of-11 on field goals, and 3-of-4 on extra points.

After their bye week, the Broncos built on their then-two-game win streak with a walk-off field goal against the Buffalo Bills. If Buffalo didn’t have too many men on the field, Lutz may not have won this award this month. Initially, Lutz missed a 41-yard field goal, but a Bills penalty moved the ball five yards forward, and Lutz drilled the make-up kick.

Lutz becomes the Denver first player to win a Special Teams Player of the Month award since kicker Brandon McManus won the award as a Bronco in 2015.

Ironically, Lutz, who replaced McManus as the Broncos’ kicker at the beginning of the year, succeeds McManus as the AFC Special Team Player of the Month. Lutz hopes to continue his hot leg against the Houston Texans this week.

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Broncos’ Lloyd Cushenberry nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Denver Bronco center Lloyd Cushenberry has been nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

The Denver Broncos have nominated center Lloyd Cushenberry for the 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, the team announced Tuesday.

According to the NFL’s website, “The (Art Rooney Award) is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition.”

Cushenberry is a fourth-year veteran who has been a starting offensive lineman who has played nearly every snap since he came into the league in 2020.

This is not the first time Cushenberry has been recognized for his on-field sportsmanship. While he was a player at LSU in college, he was the first offensive lineman in school history to wear the No. 18 jersey, which is given to player who “represents what it means to be an LSU player both on and off the field.”

Cushenberry is one of 32 players to be nominated for the award in 2023, and the winner will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremonies at the end of the year. Other nominees from around the league include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.

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Cowboys QB Dak Prescott named FedEx Air Player of Week 10

The Cowboys signal caller has been nominated for three straight weeks, finally getting the top spot. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was named Air FedEx Player of the Week for his Week 10 performance after going 26 of 35 for 404 yards and four touchdown passes in a 49-17 victory over the New York Giants. Prescott also rushed for a score late in the second quarter.

Prescott posted a season high QBR of 138.3 to go along with his first 400-plus yard passing game of the season. He also did not take a sack for only the second time this year.

This is the eighth time in his career Prescott has won the award, last taking home the honors late in the 2022 season. Prescott earned more than 33,000 votes, easily claiming victory over two NFC opponents, both of whom the Cowboys will facae off with later on this year.

Prescott has thrown for 2,415 yards this season, with 17 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. His 70.7 completion percentage is tops in the entire league.

After failing to throw for 300 yards through any of their first six games, Prescott has not thrown for under that mark since.

James Winchester named Chiefs’ Salute to Service Award nominee

Long snapper James Winchester was named the #Chiefs’ Salute to Service Award nominee for the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs named long snapper James Winchester as their Salute to Service Award nominee on Wednesday, opening the door for the long-tenured special teamer to add another accolade to his impressive resume.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has become a fan-favorite since signing with Kansas City back in 2015 and has been a key contributor to special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s game plans for the better part of a decade.

According to the NFL, the Salute to Service Award, which is presented by USAA, “recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni with proven commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities, as nominated by NFL clubs.”

Winchester’s participation in community service with the Chiefs is well-documented, and his affinity for working with veterans makes him an ideal fit for nomination for such a prestigious award.

Fans are encouraged to vote for the veteran long-snapper to increase his chances of winning the coveted decoration.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wins the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week award

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wins the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week award

The Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes adds another honor to his career trophy case as he was named the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week.

Mahomes won for his impressive performance, completing 32 of 42 attempts (76.2 percent) for 424 yards and four touchdowns for a 129.5 passer rating in the Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. After winning the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week Award, FedEx will make a $2,000 donation in the reigning league MVP’s name to a Historically Black College or University, which will apply towards needs-based scholarships to deserving HBCU students.

The donations to support HBCU students align with Mahomes’ consistent work to shine a light on the programs. He has supported the annual HBCU Legacy Bowl through his ’15 and the Mahomies Foundation’.

“Yeah, it was a no-brainer for me whenever I got the opportunity through my foundation to help sponsor this game,” Mahomes said in 2022. “I know a lot of players that have been at HBCUs and haven’t got the opportunity that I got coming out of college. So, I wanted to make sure we shine a light on these guys. There are a bunch of these guys that can play in the league.”

Running back D’Onta Foreman of the Chicago Bears was awarded his first FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for his contribution to Chicago’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, where he rushed for 89 yards on 16 carries (5.6 avg.) and two touchdowns in Week 7.

Mahomes will look to build on his fantastic Week 7 performance with his upcoming road matchup against the Denver Broncos this Sunday.