Nominees named for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
NEW YORK -- Veterans Drew Brees, Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates and Vernon Davis are among the 32 nominees for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Each team nominates a player for the award, created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. The award recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
The winner is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From eight finalists, each team's players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.
Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly won the Rooney Award last year. Before that, winners were running back Frank Gore, then with the Indianapolis Colts; defensive back Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders; and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. Gore is nominated again this year, by Miami.
This year's nominees:
- Arizona Cardinals -- DT Corey Peters
- Atlanta Falcons -- C Alex Mack
- Baltimore Ravens -S Eric Weddle
- Buffalo Bills- DT Kyle Williams
- Carolina Panthers- DE Julius Peppers
- Chicago Bears -C Cody Whitehair
- Cincinnati Bengals- WR A.J. Green
- Cleveland Browns -OL Joel Bitonio
- Dallas Cowboys- QB Dak Prescott
- Denver Broncos -DT Domata Peko
- Detroit Lions- LS Don Muhlbach
- Green Bay Packers- CB Tramon Williams
- Houston Texans- CB Johnathan Joseph
- Indianapolis Colts- QB Andrew Luck
- Jacksonville Jaguars -- DE Calais Campbell
- Kansas City Chiefs- WR Sammy Watkins
- Los Angeles Chargers -- TE Antonio Gates
- Los Angeles Rams -RB Todd Gurley
- Miami Dolphins- RB Frank Gore
- Minnesota Vikings- DE Danielle Hunter
- New England Patriots -- WR Matthew Slater
- New Orleans Saints -QB Drew Brees
- New York Giants -TE Rhett Ellison
- New York Jets- DL Steve McLendon
- Oakland Raiders -QB Derek Carr
- Philadelphia Eagles -QB Carson Wentz
- Pittsburgh Steelers -G David DeCastro
- San Francisco 49ers -T Joe Staley
- Seattle Seahawks -WR Tyler Lockett
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- LB Lavonte David
- Tennessee Titans -QB Marcus Mariota
- Washington Redskins -TE Vernon Davis
