NFL announces annual award for Offensive Linemen (1 Viewer)

[Yogibear]

When fans take their seats in stadiums, bars or their homes to watch professional football, most of the attention is paid to those throwing, catching and carrying the football. Meanwhile, the five (or more) linemen tasked with protecting those skill players from the opposition go overlooked.
No longer.
Thanks to the efforts of Buffalo Bills tackle Dion Dawkins and retired OT Andrew Whitworth, the NFL has introduced a new award to honor the league's top blocker: Protector of the Year.
College football has long awarded annual accolades for blockers. Now that the NFL has joined in on the fun, the collegiate game might offer us some insight into how this award will be given.
As is the case with most end-of-season awards, team success undoubtedly will increase a player's chances of receiving the hardware. However, that's not the be-all and end-all of candidacy. A select group of linemen have performed so well over the course of their respective careers that they don't need team success to be recognized. They're the elite blockers who are all but guaranteed to receive a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What does everyone think of the Protector of the Year award?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

It's about bleeping time...the Offensive Line matters almost as much if not more than the skill players behind it
Injuries along the OL have torpedoed otherwise excellent offenses set up to compete for possible championships
Injuries along the OL have torpedoed Head Coaches and assistants that likely were not bad coaches but couldn't protect their QB once frontline starters go down

Look at Miami last season, lost their starting RG thru FA, lost their starting RT in Austin Jackson and Tua is a lefty...that's his blind side, what did you expect was going to happen?
One of the staples of the Patriots throughout their reign of terror was the ability to mostly protect Tom Brady and work a short passing game that didn't require them to hold blocks
I'm not sure they even had a single HoF player on those OL, very good players but I'm not sure they were HoF

Excellent thread topic and one of my absolute ground rules when I am selecting players in Redraft
I always want to know what is going on with the OL, it matters greatly IMHO

 

[Pickle Rody]

And, the inaugural winner is: Lane Johnson.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Big man award, love it. Most under appreciated position in football.

 

[Terpman22]

And, the inaugural winner is: Lane Johnson.

Will be a nice feather in the cap for the HOF resume

 

[Jppaul]

The Hodor Award!