MHR Selects - Broncos 2011 Most Inspirational Player

by KaptainKirk on Jan 20, 2012 11:00 AM MST

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 08: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after running the ball in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

In the first post of the MHR Selects series, I asked who was the Broncos 2011 Comeback Player Of the Year. Demaryius Thomas is leading Elvis Dumervil by a small enough margin that the decision is still up in the air. The second post asked who was the 2011 Overachiever of the Year for the Broncos. Cornerback Chris Harris is running away with 75% of the vote so we may as well blow the whistle. This time we are searching for the Most Inspirational player on the 2011 Broncos Squad. And again we have two more players for you to discern from.

Brian Dawkins has been the heart of the Broncos since his arrival on February 28, 2009. In fact, the Head Coach at the time, Josh McDaniels, specifically recruited Dawkins for that purpose--to lead and inspire. Brian, known as "Weapon X" as much for his bone-jarring hits and all-out intensity as his fondness of the X-Men character "Wolverine," doesn't just lead by his actions. He is vocal on and off the field, mentoring the younger players and leading by his faith. It is Dawkins that leads the players with the pre-game huddle speech to fire up his teammates. Here is a prime example. TAKE IT!

Inspiring isn't it?

The other player who has demonstrated the ability to inspire his teammates is Tim Tebow. The 2nd-year Quarterback came on as the starter after the Bye Week when the Broncos record was at 1-4. Tebow rallied his teammates to a 7-4 finish and the first postseason game in 6 years (Jan. 22, 2006). It wasn't always pretty, but exciting and miraculous with a handful of head-shaking moments in disbelief thrown in, are common descriptions of the Denver Broncos 2011 season. Tim, like Dawkins, also leads by his faith. He seems to have all the charisma needed to inspire his teammates. Throw in the last minute Miracle in Miami and the Mile High Magic Moment against the New York Jets--that I was privileged enough to witness first hand--and it's no wonder the other players will follow him. And there is the Proverbs 27:17 " id="o1tj">" sharpens id="o1tj" Iron>" id="o1tj" Iron style="color: #551a8b;">"Iron sharpens iron" speech on the evening before the Broncos defeated the Chargers 16-13 in Overtime at Qualcomm Stadium in Week 12.

So what say you MHR? Which one is the Broncos 2011 Most Inspirational Player?

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Poll

Who was the Broncos Most Inspirational Player in 2011?

Brian Dawkins

52 votes

Tim Tebow

339 votes

Both

149 votes

Someone else (explain in the comments)

4 votes

544 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 2 recs |

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Comments

this is the first true both answer

Dawkins’ ability to be so physical and play with such heart at his age, and Tebow’s ability to inspire his team and make plays in spite of his own ability to actually play football. These guys are inspirational to the whole team. Go Broncos!

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Jan 20, 2012 11:13 AM MST reply actions

I went Both too

I know that if you looked up the word: Inspirational- You might just find Tebow’s picture but Dawkins is a once in a lifetime player! He gave everything he had for many years and that is Insprirational!

It's like the movie Angels in the Outfield.... but this time it's Broncos in the Endzone

by MileHighPride on Jan 20, 2012 11:40 AM MST reply actions

Just love the intesity of Dawkins

But Tebow is the one who really inspires this team at this unbelievable level.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Jan 20, 2012 12:06 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

exactly

this team might have had no business winning half of the games they did. But these two men had them playing hard late into the forth quarter and overtime. These are two of the premier leaders in the NFL hands down.

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Jan 20, 2012 12:31 PM MST up reply actions

they are Mentor Leaders, like Tony Dungy :)

Brad James

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With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!

by the new Bradfather on Jan 20, 2012 12:32 PM MST up reply actions

Why didn't you go with Belichick?

Excuse me, do these effectively hide my thunder?

by T.Dot_Bronco on Jan 20, 2012 7:40 PM MST up reply actions

I'm a football fan thinking with my heart not my head

I think Dungy is a winner on and off the field, I just think Belichick is a scumbag winner

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Jan 21, 2012 9:39 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I love them both

so with that said GO BRONCOS!!! I’m glad to leave Horse Tracks, that had a negative vibe to it today, sorry to say :(

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Jan 20, 2012 12:30 PM MST reply actions

I voted both because we desperately need inspirational leaders on this team.

Players like Champ and DJ are more of follow my play and not the vocal leaders a team needs at times to get them through the hard times. We always hear Champ say…“We need to get better as a team”, and that’s OK, but a team needs that vocal leader to inspire them when the going get’s tough…

Win, lose or draw, we are the Denver Broncos! 13-3 Baby!!! Until we ain't!

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by bfree2bronc on Jan 20, 2012 12:32 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Should have been both

Until the Steeler’s game, the Broncos had never won a game without Dawkins since he came on. Tebow ignited the spark that sent this team on the 6-0 run. Both deserve credit

"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
"When John Elway is standing in lava with a football, he will stay there and sink until you're open"
-Seanbaby

by Calikula on Jan 20, 2012 12:43 PM MST reply actions

Tebow....no question

Thank you Broncos for such a fantastic year! Thank you for coming together as a TEAM! Thank you for giving us a reason to believe again! I love you guys!!!

by Bronco Mike on Jan 20, 2012 12:45 PM MST reply actions

Dawkins....no question

Kreese and Lawrence will decide if Tim Tebow can develop into our future.
Bronco fan since 1966. Current biggest Bronco fan in Vegas, living the good life.

by DLMyers on Jan 20, 2012 12:54 PM MST reply actions

Dawkins is a HOF no doubt

The dude just can’t seem to stay healthy, he’s battled some sort of injury every year he’s been here. Hope he stays as a coach but sadly his playing days are most likely over.

Thank you Broncos for such a fantastic year! Thank you for coming together as a TEAM! Thank you for giving us a reason to believe again! I love you guys!!!

by Bronco Mike on Jan 20, 2012 1:12 PM MST up reply actions

Dawkins

As much as I admire Tim, Dawkins was the leader of the team. Just look what happened when he went down with the neck injury, our defense and especially our secondary went in the tank. We missed his intensity and leadership on D when he went down…

by D1g1tal J1m on Jan 20, 2012 1:07 PM MST reply actions

And yet look at thier record before Tim...

Just sayin. I voted Both

Tim Tebow is Denver's 2012 starting QB. I'm not even a little sorry that offends some of you.

"Sure I may be Sophmoric with an illiterates grasp of syntax and sentence structure, but your a big stupidhead" :D

by JOEGATOR15 on Jan 20, 2012 1:13 PM MST up reply actions

Agreed, everyone stepped up their game after the QB change

Thank you Broncos for such a fantastic year! Thank you for coming together as a TEAM! Thank you for giving us a reason to believe again! I love you guys!!!

by Bronco Mike on Jan 20, 2012 1:25 PM MST up reply actions

Well, we know that after the change the Defense stepped up big time to allow for the 4th quarter comebacks by Tim. The D was flying to the ball while our offense sputtered for 3 quarters. Dawkins really was the leader of our D and when he went down, nobody else could or would step up to fill the void….

by D1g1tal J1m on Jan 23, 2012 11:11 AM MST up reply actions

I voted both, but how many times have we seen players from every side of the ball coming over to congratulate Brian Dawkins?

Don’t get me wrong, I like Dawkins, just as I liked John Lynch, but are they really Broncos at heart? Think Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith. Which team will Dawkins retire with? Eagles or Broncos? How about Lynch? Tampa Bay or Denver? I like Dawkins, but I think that his allegiance is with the Philadelphia Eagles…way down deep.

by 9798 on Jan 20, 2012 1:57 PM MST reply actions

wherever Dawkins has gone

or will go, he will be part of the community. To me he is a Bronco, I want to meet him one day and give him a big hug, thanking him for his selflessness in helping the Broncos

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Jan 20, 2012 2:03 PM MST up reply actions

While I appreciate your passion

I think I’d go for the handshake or maybe even a bro-hug back pat…lol

Tim Tebow is Denver's 2012 starting QB. I'm not even a little sorry that offends some of you.

"Sure I may be Sophmoric with an illiterates grasp of syntax and sentence structure, but your a big stupidhead" :D

by JOEGATOR15 on Jan 20, 2012 2:09 PM MST up reply actions

that's how we Italians roll

emotion is what it’s all about!

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

by the new Bradfather on Jan 20, 2012 2:20 PM MST up reply actions

I'm OK with this :-)

by 9798 on Jan 21, 2012 2:13 AM MST up reply actions

"MOST" is Tebow who I voted for

However, they are by far the 2 most inspiring off of the team, and they fed off of each other’s intensity, which was evident. Looked up the games, they BOTH started and finished this year… 7-0. When one of them didn’t start or didn’t finish… 2-9

by Tony Astorino on Jan 20, 2012 3:29 PM MST reply actions

this is a tough one..

Both team heroes,also in the community. Personally I know who inspired me to jump up off my couch fist pumping around the house like McD more often,…& that’d b Tebow!

by Mike@4th&99 on Jan 20, 2012 3:34 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions

Both. I don’t see how you could vote for one or the other. Both are great leaders on their sides of the ball.

by jbbroncosfan27 on Jan 20, 2012 3:35 PM MST via mobile reply actions

That's how I figured it too.

A case could be made for Doom too. He picked up the slack at the end of the season when Dawkins couldn’t play.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.
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by KaptainKirk on Jan 20, 2012 4:49 PM MST up reply actions

Both

Could not have had the year with out both. If Dawkins can’t play next year then want him as a coach.

Richard Antill - Fan in Poky Idaho

by PokyID_Fan on Jan 20, 2012 5:00 PM MST reply actions

I voted for both.

Just as the team as whole played better once Tim entered as a starter, the defense played better when Dawkins was in the game. I also believe that the Broncos vets led by Dawkins made Tim’s entry into the NFL easier than it could have been. I don’t think they held Tebowmania against Tim and gave him a chance. Both men are an inspiration and I hope that Dawkins, who I know is a long term Eagle, will be back if healthy or stays in contact with our team if he decides to move on.

by cyngato on Jan 20, 2012 5:11 PM MST reply actions

Haha good choice of picture

wackest TD celebration I’ve ever seen. I remember when it happend I was like “Really, the intense prayer”

Excuse me, do these effectively hide my thunder?

by T.Dot_Bronco on Jan 20, 2012 7:35 PM MST reply actions

This was the first time I voted both....

“Both” is a cop-out, but in this case it’s deserved.

W-L record doesn't matter to me.... I just want to see a team on the rise at the end of the year!

by Broncotodd on Jan 20, 2012 9:11 PM MST reply actions

It has to be both

Remember way back during the lockout, Brian Dawkins was the one who put up the dough and rallied the team for unofficial workouts. Where this team ended up started there, but they wouldn’t have made it there Tebow completing the puzzle.

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Jan 21, 2012 5:38 PM MST reply actions

I was thinking

both before I saw all of the comments. I’m very glad to see that most people had the same thought. I know Dawk will probably not be with us next year, and in the most manly way possible, that is breaking my heart. He has consistently been my favorite thing about watching Bronco football for the past three years. His drive and intensity even during the past few seasons have been flat out awesome to see. In my mind he will always be a Bronco. That being said, who better for him to pass the torch to than Tim Tebow. I will certainly miss seeing Dawkins inspire and motivate our team, as well as his bone crushing hits, but I am very excited for what lies ahead for this team of ours. With that being said, I am voting for Dawk and Tebow. I really hope they both get to share this selection. GO BRONCOS!

Win or lose, I'll always be a BRONCOS fan! We've had enough of the former the past few years though, so how 'bout some more of the latter.....

by mtnbikinbronc on Jan 21, 2012 5:45 PM MST via Android app reply actions