Tag: award

Broncos RB Latavius Murray nominated for Ground Player of the Week award

Go vote for #Broncos RB Latavius Murray to win the Ground Player of the Week award! 👏👏👏

After rushing 24 times for 130 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s 24-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos running back Latavius Murray has been nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week award on NFL.com (fans can vote for Murray here).

Murray became Denver’s first running back this season to rush for 100 yards in a single game on Sunday, but he deflected praise back to his offensive line after Sunday’s impressive performance.

“I think it has to start up front — giving us some lanes,” Murray said. “Especially on those big runs — getting outside, getting on the edge, and blocking, and just hitting it when it’s there, gaining the yards that need to be gained. Those big gains again, those guys [the offensive lineman] getting out on the edge and giving me an opportunity [to make a play].”

Murray faces tough competition this week from New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed 19 times for 172 yards and a touchdown in Week 15. Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (17 carries for 139 yards and one TD) was also nominated.

Fans can vote for Murray on NFL.com. The winner will be announced later this week.

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Packers issue reminder to nominate family, fellow fans for Green Bay’s FAN Hall of Fame

The deadline to nominate someone you know for the #Packers’ FAN Hall of Fame is on Friday, December 16th

The Green Bay Packers are actively seeking nominations for induction to their FAN Hall of Fame ahead of the December 16th deadline. According to a release from the team, Packers president and chief executive officer Mark Murphy nominated his mother, 95-year-old Nancy “Nanu” Murphy for the honor in order to drum up more enthusiasm from Green Bay fans.

The former Murphy published an essay on the team’s official website supporting his mother’s nomination in which he espoused all of the reasons she would be a worthy candidate. All nominations are to include an essay with a maximum length of 500 words that states the merits of each fan’s nominee, according to the release.

While Ms. Murphy is ineligible for the honor because of her relation to a member of the Packers’ staff, plenty of Green Bay residents who are not directly related to team members are sure to be ideal candidates for induction.

The nomination process is set to be conducted entirely online, though fans without internet access are able to mail their nominations into the Packers’ Milwaukee office.

The team will select 10 of the most outstanding nominations as finalists after the December 16th deadline, and fans will be able to vote for the winner on the Packers’ official website, with the winner being chosen by both the fan vote and an appointed selection committee.

When the winner of the honor is announced in February, they will receive four club-level seats to a 2023 home game at Lambeau Field, a $500 gift certificate to the Packers’ pro shop, and a road trip for two to one of the team’s away games next season.

If someone in your life is worthy of being immortalized in the Packers FAN Hall of Fame, consider nominating them before Friday’s deadline to give them a chance to win this exciting sweepstake.

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Jerry Hughes named as finalist for Art Rooney Sportsmanship award

Hughes is one of eight players in the running to win the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

After news broke that linebacker Christian Kirksey would be the Houston Texans’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, it was announced on Thursday that another member of the team would be in contention for the prestigious Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award as well.

Defensive lineman Jerry Hughes is reported to be a finalist for the Rooney Award, on a list of candidates that includes some of the most recognized players in the league. Four players from each conference were designated as finalists, and Hughes’ inclusion on the list is certainly good news for the Texans as their failed 2022 campaign draws to a close.

Hughes is in his first year playing for Houston and has emerged as a key leader on the Texans’ defense, which has taken a step forward over the past several weeks. He was a major contributor in their devastating loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a bizarre game where the defense did not allow a touchdown, but the Texans were outscored 27-14 en route to their 10th loss of the season.

Though so much has gone wrong for the team in 2022, Hughes’ inclusion as a finalist for one of the NFL’s most coveted awards is certainly a good sign for the team’s future moving forward. As they look to rebuild for the 2023 season, the Texans will turn to Hughes to be a rock for their defense through the adversity that is sure to be part of the process and should see good results from his efforts as one of Houston’s most impactful leaders.

For now, the Hughes and the defense will head into their Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys with a head of steam after the veteran lineman and linebackers were recognized for their unique talents both on and off the field.

Desmond King II reflects on Christian Kirksey’s nomination for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

King, a college teammate of Kirksey at the University of Iowa, told reporters that the linebacker’s nomination was a long time coming

Nominations were submitted by every team in the NFL this week for the league’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and the Houston Texans selected linebacker Christian Kirksey as their representative for his work in the community this year. Ultimately, every player who is nominated is deserving of the accolade, but only one will be chosen as the league’s top off-field performer for their service.

Cornerback Desmond King II was asked about Kirksey’s nomination on Tuesday and made it clear to the media that the recognition has been a long time coming for his college teammate.

“I’ve been around Christian [Kirksey] for so long now,” King told reporters. “He was actually a senior in college when I was a freshman at Iowa, so I’ve been around Christian. Very great person, very selfless. He cares about everyone that’s around him. Definitely a leader and I congratulate him for being nominated for that award. He is definitely the epitome of being a community guy. That’s something that’s definitely stood out for him since I’ve met him.”

The praise from King is certainly warranted and speaks to Kirksey’s commitment over a series of years to making an impact in the communities he has played in. It takes a special kind of person to be put up for consideration to receive such a high honor, and Kirksey certainly seems to fit the bill.

In his nomination, the Texans cited Kirksey’s work with families in Uvalde, Texas, and his continued commitment to strengthening the team’s bond with Texas Southern University as examples of work he has put in to warrant his selection as the team’s candidate.

Fans should stay tuned to the NFL’s postseason awards as the season winds down to stay in the know about Kirksey’s chances of winning the award.

Linebacker Christian Kirksey named Texans’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee

Kirksey was named as the #Texans’ nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award

The Houston Texans have named linebacker Christian Kirksey as their nominee to receive the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2022. According to the team, Kirksey exemplifies the qualities of what it means to be a Texan both on the field, but especially in the community.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is considered the NFL’s most prestigious, and “recognizes a player for their outstanding community service activities off the field and excellence on the field” according to a release put out by the team on Tuesday.

Texans owner Cal McNair issued a statement with the release in which he expressed his support in nominating Kirksey to receive this highest of honors.

“We are proud to call Christian Kirksey a leader on our team and in the Houston community,” McNair said. “He sets an example for everyone on how to do things on and off the field, and he is incredibly deserving of this honor.”

Kirksey was nominated because of his numerous off-field projects, not only in the Houston area but around Texas as a whole. According to the release, Kirksey helped cement the Texans’ partnership with Texas Southern University last year, awarding a local high school coach with Coach of the Week honors and speaking to high school students about the right way to carry themselves both on and off the field.

He also made a trip to Uvalde, Texas in the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School to surprise the Uvalde High School football team at their team dinner, and provided players with new Nike uniforms.

His good deeds have not gone unnoticed by the Houston community, and Kirksey is more than deserving of the nomination. One player from each team is chosen as a candidate to win the award, and fans will need to wait until the end of the season to find out if Kirksey will be the eventual winner of this cherished accolade.

Broncos CB Pat Surtain nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Well-deserved recognition for Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain!

The NFL has announced its nominees for their Sportsmanship award, and Broncos star CB Patrick Surtain II is a finalist for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Surtain, a second-year player out of Alabama, is a part of 31 other nominees from across the league. The criteria is set for each NFL team to select one player with excellent sportsmanship.

The award, created for the late Art Rooney Sr., a founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was given to longtime New England Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater in 2021.

Troy Vincent, the current Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL, stated that this award and its recipients reflect the type of football players the NFL wants to represent their league.

“These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the fiercest competition combined with the excellence of sportsmanship,” Vincent said in a statement. “It reflects the very values of respect, resilience, and fairness that inspire both teammates and opponents to be the best in the world.”

NFL players will have a chance to vote on who will be the 2022 award winner. Good luck to Surtain during this process.

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Opposing defenders keep winning Player of the Week awards after beating the Saints

For the third time this season and in back-to-back weeks, an opposing defender has won Player of the Week recognition after defeating the Saints:

So that’s discouraging. For the third time this season — and now in back-to-back weeks — an opposing defender has won Player of the Week recognition after defeating the New Orleans Saints. This time it’s Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, who was instrumental in their 20-10 win over New Orleans. Highsmith was credited with 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hit, 5 tackles (3 solo, 1 tackle for loss), and 1 forced fumble. That effort won him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for Week 10.

It’s the same award that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Justin Houston won in Week 9, after demolishing the Saints with 2.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hits, 3 tackles (2 solo, 2 tackles for loss), 1 pass defensed, and 1 interception which set up the win-sealing Ravens touchdown. Earlier this season, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 7 after returning an interception 38 yards for a defensive touchdown, also bagging 2 passes defensed and 3 tackles (2 solo).

So, hey, good for them, I guess. The Saints haven’t played great football in any phase, but their offense keeps coming up small in big moments. And opponents seem to be giving them their best shot each week, which is resulting in these weekly individual awards. Hopefully they can turn things around and start to win games with some standout performances of their own.

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Alabama MBB center named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List

Charles Bediako was 1 of 20 centers that were selected to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List.

Alabama men’s basketball sophomore center Charles Bediako was listed on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List. The prestigious award recognizes the top center in the country for their achievements on the court.

Bediako is entering his sophomore season as the Tide’s starting center. He played in 33 games last season while averaging 6.7 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game. The big man is expected to have an even larger role in the Tide’s plans this season with a large group of newcomers on the team.

Bediako is 7 feet tall and has an impressive 7-foot-2 wingspan to go along with it. He is a great shot blocker and an effective rebounder on both ends of the floor for the Tide. It will be interesting to see how Bediako performs in year two. The eyes of many are going to be on him to start off the season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Bediako’s career at Alabama as well as other Tide basketball news.

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NFL names Chris Olave Offensive Rookie of the Month for September

NFL names Saints first-round draft pick Chris Olave its Offensive Rookie of the Month for September:

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Bang: the NFL has selected Chris Olave as its Offensive Rookie of the Month for September, putting the New Orleans Saints wide receiver under a bright spotlight. It’s well-deserved recognition after his strong start to the 2022 season — Olave currently leads the Saints in targets (29), receptions (17), and receiving yards (268), boasting an impressive 15.8 yards per catch.

Drafted at No. 12 overall out of Ohio State, Olave is joined by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (selected at No. 27 out of Utah) as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. They’ve been leading the charge for what’s looking like another strong rookie draft class.

It’s almost hard to believe that more big plays have been left on the field, but it’s true. Olave has gotten open early and often against some of the NFL’s best defensive backs, toasting corners like A.J. Terrell, Carlton Davis, and Jaycee Horn, but Jameis Winston has struggled to throw accurate passes his way while battling a couple of different injuries. Hopefully he can adjust and get even stronger production out of one of the NFL’s most exciting first-year players.

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Browns kicker Cade York wins AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award

After lifting the Browns to a win in their first tilt of 2022, York was selected as the AFC special teams player of the week.

After nailing a 58-yard game-winning field goal to give the Cleveland Browns their first win of the 2022 season, kicker Cade York was named the AFC’s special teams player of the week. His inspiring performance turned heads around the NFL, and his contributions clearly warranted formal recognition.

In addition to the game-winner, York went four-for-four on three-point tries and was perfect on his two-point after attempts. He accounted for more than half of the Browns’ scoring total in the 26-24 win and played a key factor in getting Cleveland off to a hot start in their latest campaign.

As a rookie, York is the fifth first-year player to win the award since the honor’s inception. He joins former Browns punter Jamie Gillan and legendary kicker Morten Anderson as the only members of the franchise to be granted the honor.

York played his college ball at Louisiana State University, steadying the Tigers’ program through all the ups and downs they saw from 2019 through last season. He was a key part of LSU’s national championship as a freshman, was named to the All-SEC second team that year as well as in 2021, and was on the All-SEC freshman team. After a stellar 2020 season, he was selected as a second-team All-American, and to the All-SEC first team, marking the most decorated year of his collegiate career.

When the Browns selected York in the fourth round of April’s draft, they couldn’t have known that the modest investment would pay such hefty dividends so soon. His impressive performance in Week 1 will set him up for a prolific season as Cleveland’s go-to leg in 2022, and with 16 more games on the Browns’ arduous schedule, the team will need all the help York can give them.

Steady improvement would usually be necessary for a young player of York’s caliber to become a consistent starter, but in this case, he will just need to maintain and prove that this outstanding showing wasn’t a fluke.

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