NY Jet Team Awards

Last week the Jets announced their team awards.  Since these are voted on by NY Jets players we felt this was worth passing along.  Apologies if you have already seen this, if not please keep reading.  Here is the full press release from the NY Jets…

The New York Jets announced their 2012 team awards today. As voted on by teammates, CB Antonio Cromartie was the Curtis Martin Team Most Valuable Player, LB David Harris received the Dennis Byrd Award for Most Inspirational Player, and TE Jeff Cumberland earned the Ed Block Courage Award. The Community Relations Department selected DE Mike DeVito for the Marty Lyons Award for Community Service, while QB Greg McElroy and T Austin Howard were selected as honorees for the Kyle Clifton Good Guy Award as voted on by Jets staff.

Cromartie leads the team with three interceptions and 17 passes defensed. Following the season-ending knee injury in Week Three to last season’s Curtis Martin Team Most Valuable Winner, CB Darrelle Revis, Cromartie has taken the responsibility of covering the opponent’s best receiver and has headed a Jets defense that ranks second in the NFL in pass defense. Additionally, he has contributed to a defensive unit that has not allowed a 100-yard receiver all season. Since joining the Jets in 2010, Cromartie has tallied 10 interceptions, tied for second-most in the AFC among cornerbacks.

“It’s a great accomplishment and it just speaks volumes of what the guys think of me as a player and trying to be a leader of this football team,” Cromartie said. “Honestly, without them I wouldn’t be the MVP. After [Darrelle] Revis went down, the guys looked to me to try to make sure we turned it up and did the things we needed to do on the back end.”

Harris, the Jets 2007 second-round draft pick in his sixth season out of Michigan, leads the team in tackles for the fourth consecutive season with 123 stops. Since 2009, he tops all NFL inside linebackers with 16.5 sacks. Furthermore, Harris has started 66 consecutive games, the third-longest streak among NFL linebackers. He has not missed a game since 2008, when he did not play in five contests, but still finished second on the squad with 87 takedowns.

“It means a lot, especially to be voted by my teammates,” Harris said. “Everybody knows what Dennis Byrd means to the Jets organization, with everything that happened to him. It’s one of the top awards you can get from the guys in this locker room.”

DeVito was selected as the winner of the Marty Lyons Award for Community Service, given to the player who gives from the heart through charity and community involvement. This holiday season, he donated $5,000 to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown and served meals to 250 guests. He has also participated in countless charity initiatives this year, including: attending several Alliance for Lupus Research corporate fundraising events for the Walk With Us to Cure Lupus Program, visiting patients at Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Medical Center, attending the United Way Gridiron Gala which raised more than $1 million, appearing at the Jets Taste of the NFL supporting the Jets Foundation and City Harvest and visiting Thomas Edison Central Six School as part of the Eat Right Move More program which focuses on fighting childhood obesity.

“I’ve always had so much respect for Marty, as a player and for the type of person he is,” said DeVito of his fellow defensive tackle. “I’m honored to accept an award that has his name on it, and I love this community. The Jets organization has a great focus on the community and on giving back and I’ve really bought into it in the New York/New Jersey area where we live.”

McElroy and Howard shared the Kyle Clifton Good Guy Award. Now in its 17^th season, the award recognizes exceptionally consistent willingness, cooperation and professionalism in daily interaction with the various departments in the organization. McElroy, in his second year with the Jets, rallied the Jets to a 7-6 victory against Atlanta in Week 13 when he came off the bench and threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Cumberland in the fourth quarter. He was named the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against San Diego.

“He’s been a winner his whole life,” Ryan said. He’s won a national championship (and) won a state championship. His whole resume speaks about him obviously being a very confident guy and a confident leader.”

Howard, in his first full season with the Jets, earned the starting right tackle position after a strong performance in training camp. He has started all 14 games and has only missed one offensive snap.

“He’s a tremendous run blocker and he’s almost like the old throwback right tackles, he kind of fits that mold, the power right tackle,” Ryan said. “I think he’s done a tremendous job over there for us.”

Cumberland was named the Ed Block Courage Award winner for his perseverance and dedication in recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in Week Three of 2011 at Oakland to start 10-of-13 games and set career-bests in receptions (26), yards (323) and touchdowns (3). Also during his recovery, Cumberland interned with the Jets sales department to complete his degree in sport management. The award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. The award is given annually to one player from each NFL team. Recipients of this award embody everything that is positive about professional athletes as they serve as inspirations in their locker rooms and as constructive role models in their communities. Cumberland, along with each team’s award recipient, has the option to travel to Baltimore in March to receive his trophy at a gala and spend time at the local Courage House at St. Vincent’s Center. This visit and the time spent with the hospitalized children will allow each recipient to fully comprehend the true meaning of the award.

“Coming back from any injury is tough. Coming back from my injury, you’ve basically got to learn how to walk again,” Cumberland said. “It’s really important to know that your teammates saw the work you were putting in to get back on the field. I felt back to normal, I’d say, sometime during camp. And I feel like I’ve been able to show people and my coaches and teammates that I can come out and do well, as far as the running game with blocking, and in the passing game, when my number’s called, I can make plays.”

PAST WINNERS:

CURTIS MARTIN AWARD

1961 — Bill Mathis, Running Back

1962 — Dick Christy, Running Back

1963 — Bake Turner, Wide Receiver

1964 — Dainard Paulson, Safety

1965 — Matt Snell, Fullback

1966 — George Sauer, Wide Receiver

1967 — Don Maynard, Wide Receiver

1968 — Joe Namath, Quarterback

1969 — Joe Namath, Quarterback

1970 — John Elliott, Defensive Tackle

1971 — Larry Grantham, Linebacker

1972 — John Riggins, Fullback

1973 — Emerson Boozer, Fullback

1974 — Joe Namath, Quarterback

1975 — John Riggins, Fullback

1976 — Clark Gaines, Fullback

1977 — Randy Rasmussen, Guard

1978 — Wesley Walker, Wide Receiver

1979 — Marvin Powell, Tackle

1980 — Bruce Harper, RB/KR

1981 — Richard Todd, Quarterback

1982 — Freeman McNeil, Running Back

1983 — Lance Mehl, Linebacker

1984 — Freeman McNeil, Running Back

1985 — Ken O’Brien, Quarterback

1986 — Al Toon, Wide Receiver

1987 — Al Toon, Wide Receiver

1988 — Al Toon, Wide Receiver

1989 — JoJo Townsell, Wide Receiver/Returner

1990 — Pat Leahy, Kicker

1991 — Chris Burkett, Wide Receiver

1992 — Brian Washington, Strong Safety

1993 — Johnny Johnson, Running Back

1994 — Mo Lewis, Linebacker

1995 — Marvin Jones, Linebacker

1996 — Adrian Murrell, Running Back

1997 — Mo Lewis, Linebacker

1998 — Vinny Testaverde, Quarterback

1999 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2000 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2001 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2002 — Chad Pennington, Quarterback

2003 — Santana Moss, Wide Receiver

2004 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2005 — Jonathan Vilma, Linebacker

2006 — Laveranues Coles, Wide Receiver

2007 — Leon Washington, RB/KR

2008 — Thomas Jones, Running Back

2009 — Darrelle Revis, Cornerback

2010 — David Harris, Linebacker

2011 — Darrelle Revis, Cornerback

2012 — Antonio Cromartie, Cornerback

DENNIS BYRD AWARD

1992 — Dennis Byrd, Defensive End-Tackle

1993 — Lonnie Young, Free Safety

1994 — Ronnie Lott, Free Safety

1995 — Kyle Clifton, Linebacker

1996 — Wayne Chrebet, Wide Receiver

1997 — Pepper Johnson, Linebacker

1998 — Bryan Cox, Linebacker

1999 — Ray Lucas, Quarterback

2000 — Bryan Cox, Linebacker

2001 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2002 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2003 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2004 — Eric Barton, Linebacker

2005 — Brooks Bollinger, Quarterback

2006 — Chad Pennington, Quarterback

2007 — Chad Pennington, Quarterback

2008 — Thomas Jones, Running Back

2009 — Thomas Jones, Running Back

2010 — LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back

2011 — LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back

2012 — David Harris, Linebacker

MARTY LYONS AWARD

1990 — Marty Lyons, Defensive Lineman

1991 — Rob Moore, Wide Receiver

1992 — Brad Baxter, Fullback

1993 — Bobby Houston, Linebacker

1994 — Boomer Esiason, Quarterback

1995 — Adrian Murrell, Running Back

1996 — John Paci, Quarterback

1997 — Lorenzo Neal, Fullback

1998 — Leon Johnson, Running Back

1999 — Dwight Stone, Wide Receiver

2000 — Ray Lucas, Quarterback

2001 — Kevin Mawae, Center

2002 — Damien Robinson, Safety

2003 — Marvin Jones, Linebacker

2004 — Kareem McKenzie, Tackle

2005 — Kevin Mawae, Center

2006 — Erik Coleman, Safety

2007 — Jerricho Cotchery, Wide Receiver

2008 — Tony Richardson, Fullback

2009 — D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Left Tackle

2010 — Brad Smith, Wide Reciever

2011 — Dustin Keller, Tight End

2012 — Mike DeVito, Defensive End

KYLE CLIFTON AWARD

1996 — Kyle Clifton, Linebacker

1997 — Otis Smith, Cornerback

1998 — Kevin Mawae, Center

1999 — Bryan Cox, Linebacker

2000 — Vinny Testaverde, Quarterback

2001 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2002 — Chad Pennington, Quarterback

2003 — Sam Garnes, Safety

2004 — Jason Ferguson, Defensive Tackle,

Kareem McKenzie, Tackle

2005 — Erik Coleman, Safety

2006 — Jerricho Cotchery, Wide Receiver

2007 — Brad Smith, Quarterback

2008 — Abram Elam, Safety

2009 — James Dearth, Long Snapper

2010 — Mike DeVito, Defensive End

2011 — Sione Pouha, Nose Tackle,

Marcus Dixon, Defensive Lineman

2012 — Greg McElroy, Quarterback

Austin Howard, Tackle

ED BLOCK AWARD

1984 — Joe Fields, Center

1985 — Johnny Lynn, Cornerback-Safety

1986 — Dan Alexander, Guard

1987 — Joe Klecko, Defensive Tackle-End

1988 — Tom Baldwin, Defensive Tackle

1989 — Ken O’Brien, Quarterback

1990 — Freeman McNeil, Running Back

1991 — Paul Frase, Defensive Tackle-End

1992 — Dale Dawkins, Wide Receiver

1993 — Lonnie Young, Free Safety

1994 — Jim Sweeney, Center

1995 — Kyle Clifton, Linebacker

1996 — Siupeli Malamala, Guard-Tackle

1997 — David Williams, Tackle

1998 — Pepper Johnson, Linebacker

1999 — Marvin Jones, Linebacker

2000 — Jason Fabini, Tackle

2001 — Curtis Martin, Running Back

2002 — Vinny Testaverde, Quarterback

2003 — Dave Szott, Guard

2004 — Chad Pennington, Quarterback

2005 — Wayne Chrebet, Wide Receiver

2006 — Chris Baker, Tight End

2007 — Laveranues Coles, Wide Receiver

2008 —  Jerricho Cotchery, Wide Receiver

2009 — David Harris, Linebacker

2010 — Shaun Ellis, Defensive End

2011 — Brandon Moore, Guard

2012 — Jeff Cumberland, Tight End