Latest news with #ProtectoroftheYear
Fox Sports
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The Inside Story of How Bills LT Dion Dawkins Helped Create 'Protector of the Year'
THE COLONY, Texas — As the first day of the eighth annual offensive line masterminds summit wrapped up, all eyes in the COSM Dallas dome hall turned to the Bills' Dion Dawkins. Perennial Pro Bowler and recent retiree Terron Armstead, moderating a panel of Hall of Fame linemen, took a moment to shout out Buffalo's left tackle for spearheading the campaign that led to the creation of the "Protector of the Year." Beginning this season, the award will be presented annually at "NFL Honors" to the league's top offensive lineman. The room — filled with O-line greats past and present, in addition to rising stars at both the college and NFL levels, plus coaches and talent evaluators — broke out into applause. Standing in the corner, Dawkins took it all in, busting out a wide smile. "It was something that was mandatory for football," Dawkins said of the award. The Bills' four-time Pro Bowl left tackle told me about the "multiyear" campaign he led to create the honor, which was unveiled by the league in May. The winner will be decided annually by a panel of former offensive linemen: LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth. Along with Dawkins, Whitworth played an integral role in advocating for the award. Dawkins told me that they pushed the lengthy campaign through to the finish line at last season's Super Bowl. Dawkins, with Hall of Famer Pace at his side for support, approached NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at his Super Bowl party. "I was like, 'Rog,'" Dawkins said. "Not one of us could ever say we were the best. We don't have no trophy to say we're the best. … We don't have anything that can show we're the best offensive lineman during our time for a season. We need that award. "He's like, 'Dion, you're right. I'm ready to listen. I'm here. Let's do it.' So we did it. Call after call after call after call. Meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. Name [for the award]. This, that — long list of all that stuff. Then we had the press conference. Now, it's official." The Protector of the Year winner will be selected based on skill metrics (e.g. pass block win rate, run block win rate, penalties, sacks allowed), taking into account impact, leadership, durability and strength of opponent as well. Offensive linemen were previously ineligible for most on-field awards. "Everybody says, 'He was a great protector.'" Dawkins said. "'Yeah, he was a great lineman. Yeah, he was a lineman for Jim Kelly. Yeah, he was the lineman for [Donovan] McNabb, Michael Vick,' somebody like that. But what good is it to play a sport or to do something and not be able to win an award? "Like, can you imagine if there was no MVP trophy?" he continued. "Can you imagine if there was no passing title? Can you also imagine if there was no sack title? Or no Defensive Player of the Year? Or no Offensive Player of the Year? If there was no NBA MVP, what would LeBron James be? Just another good player. "As a lineman, I want to know who the best protector is. Who's the best? And if it's not me, cool — now, I know where I'm at. Now, I know where I was ranked. Cool, no I can fight for it. Simple as that. Now, the big boys have something to fight for. And I love it." Dawkins also discussed his quarterback, Josh Allen. The three-time Pro Bowler now has an NFL MVP award after this past season, but he hasn't reached a Super Bowl as he enters Year 8. Allen is 0-4 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, including January's AFC Championship Game loss to Kansas City. Allen's mentality, Dawkins explained, is not the problem in Buffalo. "Josh is going to be Josh. Josh doesn't have to do nothing different," Dawkins told me. "Josh is the best that he can be. The reflection is, everybody around him has to be the best that they can be for us to get over that hump. Of course, everybody is like, 'Is Josh Allen going to do it for the Buffalo Bills?' Josh Allen is going to do what he's been doing, and that's be great. Now, all of us have to be great with him, consistently. Make every block. Catch every pass. Kick every kick. Run down to make every tackle. Once we do that, the rest is the rest. "He's one of them dudes," he added of Allen. "You can't compare him to nothing else, man. He walks through, you feel his presence." Dawkins made his presence felt at the offensive line masterminds summit, hosted by O-line guru Duke Manyweather and Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson. Wearing a shirt of himself on Day 1 of the event, Dawkins gave an impromptu speech about his mentality in front of the 200-person room, showing his engaging and confident persona. "When I walk on the field, I literally say I'm the baddest motherf---er here," he told the room. " I don't give a f---. I'll tell you, 'I'll talk s--- and I'll beat your ass.'" Entering his 10th season, the 31-year-old Dawkins was one of the handful of greats whom college and younger NFL offensive linemen gravitated to during the summit's breakout sessions, where players could get advice and wisdom. "People don't want to be linemen. People want to be skinny guys," Dawkins said of his approach to mentorship. "But to make people want to be big guys, you have to be cool and be around big guys, right? You have to stay in the culture. "Guys are growing up watching music videos," he continued. "You have to know what the world likes. I enjoy being that for the young guys. They look up to it. They're like, 'This dude is cool. He's normal. He's not a robot. He's keeping it real. He's telling his pros and cons. He's a normal dude.'" One who's not afraid to be himself, taking pride in a big win he secured for the overlooked bodyguards of the NFL. Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
49ers QB Brock Purdy: Trent Williams is 'my binkie' on the blind side
The San Francisco 49ers endured a tough 2024 campaign following their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. Things took a turn late in the offseason when top draft pick Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery. Injuries and more off-field issues contributed to a six-win campaign, tied for the fewest in the last five years for the franchise. Injuries piled up on both sides of the ball but hit some on the offense hardest. Star running back Christian McCaffrey missed most of the season and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7. Protector of the Year: Trent Williams, top candidates to win best offensive lineman award One of the biggest losses came on the offensive line as first-team All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams missed seven games with an ankle injury. For quarterback Brock Purdy, that was a key loss down the second half of the season. "Last year he got hurt towards the end and it's just different," Purdy said on the July 8 episode of the "Bussin with the Boys" podcast. "Obviously, whoever gets thrown in I trust and we're good... [but] he's locked down over there. He's my little safety blanket. I'm like 'I need my binkie' and I need him to be in the game." Prior to 2024, Williams had made the Pro Bowl in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The lone exception was 2019 which he missed when recovering from surgery to remove cancer. He was a first-team All-Pro from 2021 to 2023 with San Francisco. "You watch his run game and the stuff, the moves that he does, it's like 'what the heck?'" Purdy said. "He does this ninja move thing and then pushes guys in the ground... as a right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side dude is good, I can't even describe to you." 'We have pretty lofty expectations': George Kittle on 49ers in 2025 Williams is entering his age-37 season in 2025 but says he is not considering retirement anytime soon. 'I just feel like I do myself and my teammates a disservice if I'm looking toward the end,' Williams said during minicamp. 'I'm paid, people count on me to be here now. We got goals and aspirations as a team. I just don't think putting brain power toward that helps us get to where we want to go." San Francisco starts training camp on July 15 for rookies and July 22 for veterans like Williams and Purdy.
Fox Sports
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NFL Predictions, Picks: 3 Protector Of The Year Wagers To Make Now
We've made it. We're getting Protector of the Year — an award for the big fellas in football. I played eight seasons in the league as a lineman, so this is an award that I'm uniquely qualified to handicap. In late May, the NFL announced Protector of the Year to honor the best offensive lineman in the sport. We offensive linemen have been petitioning the powers in charge, insisting that an award for the offensive line is much-needed. The league delivered with this announcement. As with any award, there's a market to wager on the winner, and as a former player, I cannot wait to give you my picks and predictions. Protector of the Year will be voted upon by six former offensive linemen. Those guys are LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth. Bentley, Kelce and O'Hara played center in the NFL. Bentley made an All-Pro team as a guard as well. Whitworth was a tackle with the Bengals and Rams. Shields and Pace — the big dogs — are both members of the Hall of Fame. There are five criteria that will be used to evaluate the winner: skill metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of opponent. I expect the committee to strongly adhere to these principles in its voting. It's unlikely that a long shot will win this award. The best offensive linemen each season tend to be the ones we saw the previous year. There can be players who rise and fall in the ranks, but it's rare to see someone overperform to a level that can win them this kind of accolade. But as is the case when people vote on anything, the human element does matter. Preseason hype and overall career body of work will also matter. Positions the voters played, like center for three of them, will matter. If this was voted on by the public, it would be an offensive tackle award. Former centers will value the work of their current playing piers. With all of that in mind, here's who I like. Lane Johnson +750 You can wager on both Penei Sewell and Johnson at +650 and +750, respectively, and you're probably going to win the wager. Both are the clear favorites, as they should be. But for now, I'm just wagering on Johnson. Although he got beaten out by Sewell for first-team All-Pro honors at right tackle in 2024, I still firmly believe Johnson is the best offensive lineman in the NFL. He's the anchor of the best line in the sport, and he's made the All-Pro team in four straight seasons. He's going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer at right tackle. If this award was voted on by a panel that only looked at stats or highlight plays, I'd feel differently about wagering on Johnson over Sewell. However, it's a group of voters that will value the thing Johnson is much better at than Sewell and that's pass protection. Pass protection as an offensive tackle is the toughest part of the job. Johnson also gets little help and is often tasked with blocking some of the best rushers by himself. Other offensive tackles cannot say the same. The voting committee is made up of players who understand the difficulty of this task and will weigh it appropriately in the evaluation. PICK: Lane Johnson (+750) to win Protector of the Year Trent Williams +950 If Williams is healthy, he's going to return to the All-Pro Williams we've seen in the past. He was first-team All-Pro from 2021-2023 and there was little doubt who the best offensive lineman was in the game. Williams combines outstanding pass protection with highlight blocks in the run game that tend to help win awards. If he can stay healthy while the 49ers add some wins this season, he will be up for this honor. PICK: Trent Williams (+950) to win Protector of the Year Creed Humphrey +2200 This wager is one of my longer shots that I'm willing to play now. With Kelce retiring before the 2024 season, Creed took over as first-team All-Pro after last year. He's unlikely to lose that title this season, and with the Chiefs in the spotlight, he will get attention. As I mentioned above in the outline of the voting committee, there are three former centers in this group. They will have a strong voice and will advocate for including interior offensive linemen in this discussion. If it was a panel of just sportswriters or a group including just one center or none at all, I wouldn't advocate for anyone except for a tackle to win the award. PICK: Creed Humphrey (+2200) to win Protector of the Year Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Oregon football star Penei Sewell favored to win NFL 'Protector of the Year' award
The NFL was in a longstanding conundrum, offensive linemen are arguably among the most critical positions in the field, but there was never a way to honor them. That has all changed this year as the league announced a new award a couple of months back called the 'Protector of the Year.' The award will highlight the best offensive lineman each season, and, like any other honor given out by the NFL, people have already begun betting on who they think will be the winner. The only perceived downside to this unveiling is that offensive tackles are valued much higher than guards, which could skew the voting. This is already evident in the betting odds as eight of the 10 favorites are tackles. The man with the best betting odds to win the award is former Oregon Ducks star Penei Sewell, who is widely considered to be one of the best all-around linemen in the game. Sewell leads the way with +650 odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson at +750. Behind those two is San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams, with +900 odds. As a former first-round pick, Sewell entered the league with high expectations after winning the Outland Trophy with the Ducks. In his four years with the Detroit Lions, he has reportedly only given up one sack, which almost seems impossible. Unless the NFL has plans to regulate how many times a person can win the award, there is a chance Sewell will win many years in a row. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Fox Sports
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NFL Protector of the Year Odds: Sewell Favored To Win Inaugural Award
A lineman is a quarterback's best friend. And now, those best friends will have a chance to be rewarded. The NFL is introducing a new award ahead of this upcoming season: Protector of the Year. Let's check out the odds for the honor at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 30. NFL Protector of the Year odds Penei Sewell: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total) Lane Johnson: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total) Trent Williams: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) Tristan Wirfs: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total) Jordan Mailata: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total) Quenton Nelson: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Dion Dawkins: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Rashawn Slater: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Creed Humphrey: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Laremy Tunsil: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Joe Alt: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) The new award was announced in May, and it will be handed out alongside MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and other awards at the NFL Honors event at season's end. While technically an offensive lineman could win OPOY or even MVP, it's of course, never happened. Either a quarterback, running back or wide receiver has won every OPOY award in NFL history, and either a quarterback or running back has won every MVP except on three occasions, when the award went to a kicker (1982 — Mark Moseley), defensive tackle (1971 — Alan Page) and linebacker (1986 — Lawrence Taylor). In short, offensive linemen have only been honored by being named to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. But that injustice is no more. Atop the board is Lions right tackle Penei Sewell, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection. Second is Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro selection and two-time Super Bowl champion. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
