.The Cleveland Browns are known for their strong running game. After last season, the Browns offensive line was considered in the top three.
One of the main reasons is left back Joel Bitonio.
The rocker and band frontman was nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Wednesday and will represent Cleveland.
All 32 clubs have a player they want.Bitonio has shown the Browns that he is an important part of the community by excelling on and off the field.
The backbone of the offensive line is Bitonio. He’s made five straight Pro Bowl appearances and is playing for his sixth, so he needs a bigger shelf to store all his gear.
The longtime left fielder was first team All-Pro for three years and second team All-Pro for two years.
Bitonio was a second-round pick of the Browns in 2014 and their longest-tenured player.
The Art Rooney Award is one of four performance-based awards presented at the NFL awards ceremony each February.
The award was first introduced in 2014 when former Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald was the first recipient of the award.
The award was established in 2014 to honor Art Rooney, founder and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rooney’s Pittsburgh franchise began as the Pirates in 1933. He led many changes in the league until his death in 1988. He often acted as mediator at meetings of property owners and was considered fair and impartial.
Rooney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964. The winner of this prize is determined by the player.
From the eight finalists, players from each team will decide the winner by consensus vote. As with Pro Bowl voting, teams cannot vote for their own players.
RB Nick Chubb was nominated last year. Four offensive linemen, three linebackers and one special teams player received awards.
The purpose of these awards is to encourage sportsmanship in the competitive world known as professional football.
Sportsmanship on the field, fair play, respect for the game and the opponent and honesty in the game are very important for the development of the game.
AFC North contenders include WR Tyler Boyd – Cincinnati, former Browns DT Larry Ogunjobi – Pittsburgh and fellow former Browns OG Kevin Zeitler – Baltimore.
The winner will be announced as part of the NFL Honors program prior to Super Bowl LVIII and will receive a $25,000 award from the NFL
Foundation for the charity of their choice.No Browns player has ever won this prestigious award.
