Football - The Ed Block Courage Awards

The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation announced the names of the winners from each NFL team who will receive an Ed Block Courage Award at the 29th Annual Ed Block Courage Awards ceremony on March 20, 2007. This will be held at Martin’s West.

The recipients for the awards are selected by their teammates for displaying commitment to the principles of courage and sportsmanship while serving as inspiration in locker rooms. The Ed Block Courage Award has become the most esteemed honor bestowed on an NFL player specially since the recipient is selected by his teammates and peers. Invariably recipients are players who have overcome serious and devastating injuries or personal tragedies to return to top level competition in NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens’ 2006 Ed Block Courage Award nominee is cornerback Corey Ivy. Ivy is six year NFL veteran and Ivy signed a three year contract with the Ravens in March 2006. On the return flight from the Denver game, the plane had to make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh to get Ivy medical treatment for a lacerated kidney he had suffered during the game. Ivy returned to the field in week 9 and was one of the most inspiration performers for the Ravens through the remaining part of the season.
For over 28 years, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation has celebrated the courageous efforts of players in the NFL while raising awareness to the plight of abused children in the NFL communities. Through the Foundation's Courage House National Support Network for Kids, the organization has helped Courage Houses improve the lives of abused children across America. Named after the NFL team in a respective city, a Courage House is a facility that provides support and quality care for abused children in that particular community.
The Courage Award is named after Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. The inaugural Ed Block Courage Award was presented in 1978 to Baltimore Colts defensive end, Joe Ehrmann. Following the Colts' departure from Baltimore in 1984, the Award was expanded to include one player from every team in the NFL.