NEW YORK (AP) - Veterans Drew Brees, Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates and Vernon Davis are among the 32 nominees for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Each team nominates a player for the award, created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. The award recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
The winner is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From 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.
Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly won the Rooney Award last year. Before that, winners were running back Frank Gore, then with the Indianapolis Colts; defensive back Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders; and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. Gore is nominated again this year, by Miami.
This year’s nominees:
Arizona Cardinals - DT Corey Peters
Atlanta Falcons - C Alex Mack
Baltimore Ravens -S Eric Weddle
Buffalo Bills- DT Kyle Williams
Carolina Panthers- DE Julius Peppers
Chicago Bears -C Cody Whitehair
Cincinnati Bengals- WR A.J. Green
Cleveland Browns -OL Joel Bitonio
Dallas Cowboys- QB Dak Prescott
Denver Broncos -DT Domata Peko
Detroit Lions- LS Don Muhlbach
Green Bay Packers- CB Tramon Williams
Houston Texans- CB Johnathan Joseph
Indianapolis Colts- QB Andrew Luck
Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Calais Campbell
Kansas City Chiefs- WR Sammy Watkins
Los Angeles Chargers - TE Antonio Gates
Los Angeles Rams -RB Todd Gurley
Miami Dolphins- RB Frank Gore
Minnesota Vikings- DE Danielle Hunter
New England Patriots - WR Matthew Slater
New Orleans Saints -QB Drew Brees
New York Giants -TE Rhett Ellison
New York Jets- DL Steve McLendon
Oakland Raiders -QB Derek Carr
Philadelphia Eagles -QB Carson Wentz
Pittsburgh Steelers -G David DeCastro
San Francisco 49ers -T Joe Staley
Seattle Seahawks -WR Tyler Lockett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans -QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins -TE Vernon Davis
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