Deuce McAllister Accepts Ed Block Courage Award in Ceremony

Section: Talent

Doug Miller

Deuce McAllister Accepts Ed Block Courage Award in Ceremony
Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Mar 21, 2007 – 11:10 am
Saints running back Deuce McAllister was presented with the prestigious Ed Block Courage Award last night in an emotional ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Ed Block Courage Awards are named after the former Baltimore Colts trainer and recognize one representative from each of the NFL's 32 franchises who symbolizes courage and sportsmanship while serving as an inspiration in the locker room.

McAllister, who returned to action in 2006 season and lead the team in rushing with 1,057 yards on 244 carries (4.3 avg.) and a team-high 10 touchdowns, missed the final 11 games of 2005 with a serious knee injury. McAllister earned the votes of his New Orleans Saints' teammates for the award. McAllister became the club's all-time leading rusher this past season and enters the 2007 season with 5,586 yards and 48 career scores.

"Deuce's teammates recognized his dedication and effort in rehabilitating from an extremely serious knee injury," said Scottie Patton, the Saints' head athletic trainer. "During the process, he remained a valuable presence in the locker room and a team leader. He showed young players that through hard work, you can return to the field as strong as you were before an injury."

"Deuce's talent and ability haven't been lessened and he remains one of the NFL's best running backs," said Patton. "It's a credit to his

determination and work ethic, and he did extra work on his own to stay ahead of schedule. Deuce symbolizes everything the Ed Block Award is about."

The Ed Block Courage Award has become one of the most esteemed honors bestowed upon a player in the NFL over its 29-year existence, primarily since the winner is chosen solely by his peers. Recipients embody everything that is constructive about professional athletes as they conduct themselves as positive role models within their communities and serve as inspirations to their teammates.

They are often players who have overcome devastating injuries or obstacles in their professional or personal lives to return to the playing field.

McAllister ranks among the NFL's most charitable players and his work, largely through his "Catch 22 Foundation" sponsors countless events throughout the year in an effort to enhance the lives of under-privileged youth and adolescents in the Gulf South Region primarily through the establishment of positive role models in their lives, providing unique opportunities for them to experience, and a financial commitment to making a difference. While many of last night's award recipients were honored for recovering from football-related injuries, one of the most poignant stories came from the Detroit Lions' Ricky Sandoval. Sandoval, the director of security for the Lions, was diagnosed in April with inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Told that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients was between 4 and 7 percent, Sandoval--according to former Lions coach Steve Mariucci, who presented the award to Sandoval--said: "You know what? That means I've got a chance."

Sandoval overcame a blood clot that caused one of his lungs to collapse, the loss of 70 pounds and weekly chemotherapy treatments--which prompted the Lions players to nominate Sandoval to become the first nonplayer to win a Courage Award.

"I'm honored to be the first non-player to win this," said Sandoval, who was greeted with a rousing standing ovation. "I do truly appreciate this and thank you all."