The 32 player nominees for the first annual NFL Sportsmanship Award have been finalized, the NFL announced today. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes NFL players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
The Steelers nominee is safety Troy Polamalu, who throughout his career has epitomized sportsmanship and has earned the respect of teammates, coaches and opponents for his approach to the game.
The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award will be determined by a vote of the NFL players. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select from the 32 nominees eight finalists (four in the AFC; four in the NFC). 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 when the players vote on December 19. From the eight finalists, each team's players will submit a consensus vote of its choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.
The award will be 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.
The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced during the nationally televised "4th Annual NFL Honors" show on Saturday, January 31 on NBC, the night before Super Bowl XLIX. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. He also will be presented with a trophy that will capture 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 other players at all levels.
2014 NFL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES
TEAM
NOMINEE
Arizona Cardinals
WR Larry Fitzgerald
Atlanta Falcons
RB Steven Jackson
Baltimore Ravens
WR Torrey Smith
Buffalo Bills
WR Chris Hogan
Cincinnati Bengals
CB Terence Newman
Carolina Panthers
LB Thomas Davis
Chicago Bears
RB Matt Forté
Cleveland Browns
CB Joe Haden
Dallas Cowboys
TE Jason Witten
Denver Broncos
DE DeMarcus Ware
Detroit Lions
WR Calvin Johnson
Green Bay Packers
WR Jordy Nelson
Houston Texans
DE J.J. Watt
Indianapolis Colts
WR T.Y. Hilton
Jacksonville Jaguars
DT Roy Miller III
Kansas City Chiefs
QB Alex Smith
Miami Dolphins
DE Cameron Wake
Minnesota Vikings
LB Chad Greenway
New England Patriots
WR/ST Matthew Slater
New Orleans Saints
WR Marques Colston
New York Giants
LB Jameel McClain
New York Jets
T D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Oakland Raiders
S Charles Woodson
Philadelphia Eagles
LB Connor Barwin
Pittsburgh Steelers
S Troy Polamalu
San Diego Chargers
TE Antonio Gates
San Francisco 49ers
LB Patrick Willis
Seattle Seahawks
LB K.J. Wright
St. Louis Rams
DE Robert Quinn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans
S George Wilson
Washington Redskins
S Ryan Clark
