Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is one of 32 player nominees for the third annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The award recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr.
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, December 16. 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 award 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.
Last year, the players selected Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders as the recipient of the 2015 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals was the inaugural winner of the award in 2014.
The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced during the nationally televised NFL Honors show on Saturday, February 4 on FOX, the night before Super Bowl LI. 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.
2016 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES
TEAM
NOMINEE
Arizona Cardinals
DT Calais Campbell
Atlanta Falcons
FB Patrick DiMarco
Baltimore Ravens
G Marshal Yanda
Buffalo Bills
DT Kyle Williams
Carolina Panthers
TE Greg Olsen
Chicago Bears
LB Sam Acho
Cincinnati Bengals
WR A.J. Green
Cleveland Browns
T Joe Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
CB Brandon Carr
Denver Broncos
LB DeMarcus Ware
Detroit Lions
S Glover Quin
Green Bay Packers
LB Julius Peppers
Houston Texans
LB Brian Cushing
Indianapolis Colts
RB Frank Gore
Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Paul Posluszny
Kansas City Chiefs
LB Derrick Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
DE Robert Quinn
Miami Dolphins
T Branden Albert
Minnesota Vikings
CB Terence Newman
New England Patriots
S Devin McCourty
New Orleans Saints
T Zach Strief
New York Giants
WR Victor Cruz
New York Jets
WR Brandon Marshall
Oakland Raiders
QB Derek Carr
Philadelphia Eagles
RB Darren Sproles
Pittsburgh Steelers
LB Arthur Moats
San Diego Chargers
QB Philip Rivers
San Francisco 49ers
T Joe Staley
Seattle Seahawks
WR Tyler Lockett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans
QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins
QB Kirk Cousins
