ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have selected offensive guard Chris Kuper as their 2012 Ed Block Courage Award winner, it was announced.
Each year, the Ed Block Courage Awards honors players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Kuper, who suffered a fractured/dislocated ankle in Week 17 last year and fractured his forearm during training camp this season, was named an offensive captain by his teammates in 2012 and was selected as a second alternate for the Pro Bowl after playing seven games (5 starts) for the Broncos in the regular season.
The seventh-year offensive lineman from the University of North Dakota has spent the last five seasons as Denver’s starting right guard, allowing just 12 sack sin 78 career starts (67 at right guard, 11 at left guard).
The Ed Block Courage Award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. Recipients are selected by their teammates for team effort, as well as individual performance.