INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts in 2017 hope to make a back-to-back run at the National Football League's annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
The league on Tuesday released its 32 player nominees for the 2017 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton was named the Indianapolis Colts' selection for the honor, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
Colts running back Frank Gore won the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award last year during the nationally televised NFL Honors Show the night before the Super Bowl.
"Winning is good, but you want the respect of your fellow players, too. Last year I was humbled to receive the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, because it is the only award this evening that is decided by the players themselves," Charles Woodson said while introducing Gore that night. "This year's recipient is someone I played against. He is a combination of power and speed. He can run around you, or he can run through you, but he's also the first guy to offer you a hand to get you back on your feet. No wonder the players selected Frank Gore as the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient."
Hilton is in his sixth season in the NFL — and his sixth with the Colts. He headed into this week's bye week fourth in the NFL in receiving with 725 yards; he also has 36 receptions and three touchdowns, and boasts a 20.1 yards-per-reception average.
The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The panel is comprised of Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler.
The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote on Friday, Dec. 15. From the 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.
The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced during the nationally televised NFL Honors show on Saturday, Feb. 3, on NBC, the night before Super Bowl LII. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. He will also receive a trophy that represents the important role that sportsmanship plays in the game and how NFL players that demonstrate integrity and honor on the field serve as role models for players at all levels.
The award, which was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr., is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.**
2017 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES
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TEAM
NOMINEE
Arizona Cardinals
CB Patrick Peterson
Atlanta Falcons
S Ricardo Allen
Baltimore Ravens
QB Joe Flacco
Buffalo Bills
LB Lorenzo Alexander
Carolina Panthers
LB Luke Kuechly
Chicago Bears
RB Benny Cunningham
Cincinnati Bengals
DE Carlos Dunlap
Cleveland Browns
T Joe Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
C Travis Frederick
Denver Broncos
LB Von Miller
Detroit Lions
DT Haloti Ngata
Green Bay Packers
S Morgan Burnett
Houston Texans
P Shane Lechler
Indianapolis Colts
WR T.Y. Hilton
Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Paul Posluszny
Kansas City Chiefs
QB Alex Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
TE Antonio Gates
Los Angeles Rams
G Rodger Saffold
Miami Dolphins
G Jermon Bushrod
Minnesota Vikings
DE Brian Robison
New England Patriots
WR Matthew Slater
New Orleans Saints
QB Drew Brees
New York Giants
T Justin Pugh
New York Jets
QB Josh McCown
Oakland Raiders
QB Derek Carr
Philadelphia Eagles
TE Brent Celek
Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Cameron Heyward
San Francisco 49ers
T Joe Staley
Seattle Seahawks
DE Cliff Avril
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans
QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins
TE Vernon Davis
