Bills' Dion Dawkins honored to have impact on Protector of the Year Award
It was announced that the NFL will be introducing a new player award for the upcoming season, the Protector of the Year award, which will be given to the league's best offensive lineman at the NFL Honors following the season.
The big guys up front are finally getting some recognition.
For Buffalo Bills guard Dion Dawkins (2017-present), this award coming to fruition means a lot, and he was a big reason why it came about. He spent the last few years spreading awareness of the importance of his position, expressing that the o-line is the backbone of every team.
"This Protector of the Year award is finally giving the big boys up front the respect we deserve,' Dawkins said. 'I've been knocking on doors and spearheading this movement because offensive linemen are the true foundation of every team's success. We might not have all the fancy stats as the skinnies or end up on a highlight reel every week, but without us, there's no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns. This award is for all the unsung heroes who put in work every snap. I won't stop fighting to give offensive linemen the respect and recognition we deserve.'
For the NFL, it's about time they show the big guys love. Right now, there are probably a lot of retired greats who played offensive line that are upset they never got a chance to take home this award. But, they have to be happy about the introduction of the award, and it's better late than never. The league definitely got it right, and Dawkins deserves a lot of the credit.
"We've been talking about this for the last three years," Dawkins said to the media during Bills OTAs. "Me having meetings with Roger [Goodell] and Troy [Vincent] and some of these other guys... that's what did it. I'm honored that no matter what, that's a part of my legacy... and that's what I wanted.
"I'm honored to change football... we changed football," he continued. "There will be an award for offensive linemen now. Now all the kids... they don't have to be fast... they'll be happy with something to push after and achieve."
Dawkins has been extremely vocal regarding him and his fellow offensive linemen getting the love they deserve. Now, after years of knocking down doors and spreading awareness, Dawkins was the major force behind getting this award into the NFL.
As for the award itself, it will be based on five categories of performance from offensive linemen: skill metrics; impact; leadership; durability; strength of opponent.
The panel who will select the recipient of the award features six former NFL offensive linemen: LeCharles Bentley; Jason Kelce; Shaun O'Hara; Orlando Pace; Will Shields; Andrew Whitworth.
Watch below to get Dawkins' full thoughts regarding the Protector of the Year award from this week's Bills OTAs:
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