Denver Broncos offensive lineman Ryan Clady has been named the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville announced on Friday.
Clady, along with a player from each of the 31 other NFL teams, was selected by his teammates to receive the award for exemplifying a commitment to sportsmanship and courage. The annual 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 third-year player recovered from an offseason knee injury to start all 14 games for Denver this season to increase career starting streak to 46 games since he entered the league with the Broncos as a first-round selection (12th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft from Boise State University.
"Ryan is a class-act player who is undoubtedly deserving of this season’s Ed Block Courage Award," said Broncos Head Athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who is in his 35th season with the organization. "His courage, hard work and dedication are apparent with his remarkable return from a torn patella tendon he suffered in April. During his rehab, he was consistently ahead of schedule, and it takes a very special mindset and a very big heart to make that quick of a recovery."
All 32 Ed Block Courage Award recipients from around the NFL will be honored at a banquet in Baltimore in early March.
Previous Broncos winners of the Ed Block Courage Award include safety Brian Dawkins (2009), safety Marquand Manuel (2008), defensive end John Engelberger (2007), linebacker Louis Green (2006), tight end Dwayne Carswell (2005) and guard Dan Neil (2004).
The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is an NFL-supported charity dedicated to recognizing courage in the league while improving the lives of abused/neglected children in NFL cities throughout the country.