Cowboys LB Ware first NFL player to win Butkus award

Splat · 01-10-2009, 01:46 PM

Cowboys LB Ware first NFL player to win Butkus award

DALLAS (TICKER) —Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who led the NFL with 20 sacks, became the first professional player to win the Butkus Award.

The Dallas Morning News reported on Saturday that Ware will be presented with the award at a banquet next week.

The award, which is named after Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, is annually given to the best collegiate linebacker. This is the first year that there is a high school and professional winner.

Wake Forest’s Aaron Curry and Manti Te’o, of Punahou High School in Honolulu were the other recipients.

It is a small consolation for Ware, who finished second to Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

“It’s a great thing to be the first of anything, especially to be nominated for something like the Butkus Award,” Ware told the Morning News.

The award recognizes the “complete and best linebacker” in the game.

“To be known as the most well-rounded linebacker, you have to able to drop into coverage, rush the passer but also to be able to stop the run when it comes at you,” Ware said.

“The criteria is a three-down player who’s not taken out and not a specialty player, like a lot of them are,” Butkus told the newspaper. “I’m very happy with the choice. He’s an impact player. He goes after it. That’s what I like.”

RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES · 01-10-2009, 01:47 PM

well deserved

Smooth Criminal · 01-10-2009, 01:49 PM

I think he deserves to be DPOTY more than "the most complete linebacker"

Harrison is a much more complete linebacker, while I still say Ware had the better season.

OzTitan · 01-10-2009, 03:07 PM

I don't really understand. How does an NFL player not win it every year?

TitanHope · 01-10-2009, 03:10 PM

It's a collegiate award, Oz. This is the first year that a high school and pro LB are given an award for their respective level of play. So at first, it was one award for the best collegiate LB. Now, it's three awards for the best high school LB, collegiate LB, and pro LB.

steelersfan43 · 01-10-2009, 03:12 PM

It was just a collage award, but now I guess they expanded it to highshool and pro aswell.

Paul · 01-10-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

I think he deserves to be DPOTY more than "the most complete linebacker"

Harrison is a much more complete linebacker, while I still say Ware had the better season.

Seriously? I would say there about equal when it comes to pass rushing and against the run, but I would give the edge to Ware when it comes to dropping back into coverage.

WinslowBodden · 01-10-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Seriously? I would say there about equal when it comes to pass rushing and against the run, but I would give the edge to Ware when it comes to dropping back into coverage.

Not to mention Harrison has alot more talent around him and the most blitz happy scheme in the league.

Staubach12 · 01-10-2009, 05:13 PM

I still think Ware should have won DPOY, but this is still good to hear. I had heard they were going to do this... very interesting.

D-Unit · 01-10-2009, 05:43 PM

I wonder why Harrison didn't get it? Is this not political like all other NFL awards, where your team has to make the playoffs in order to get recognition?

CC.SD · 01-10-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Unit

I wonder why Harrison didn't get it? Is this not political like all other NFL awards, where your team has to make the playoffs in order to get recognition?

DPOY has gone to non-playoff players before. It's probably a tiebreaker though, which might have happened this year. Seems fair enough if that's the case.

LonghornsLegend · 01-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanHope

It's a collegiate award, Oz. This is the first year that a high school and pro LB are given an award for their respective level of play. So at first, it was one award for the best collegiate LB. Now, it's three awards for the best high school LB, collegiate LB, and pro LB.

That makes sense, was wondering why I never heard of this.

So are we going to start having individual awards for the best DB and D-line pretty soon like College also? Gotta believe the rest will also.

CC.SD · 01-10-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornsLegend

That makes sense, was wondering why I never heard of this.

So are we going to start having individual awards for the best DB and D-line pretty soon like College also? Gotta believe the rest will also.

The next step after that is, everybody gets a trophy! Yay!

The Great Jonathan Vilma · 01-10-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

I think he deserves to be DPOTY more than "the most complete linebacker"

Harrison is a much more complete linebacker, while I still say Ware had the better season.

i disagree with the bolded, but your opinion is what it is.

Smooth Criminal · 01-10-2009, 08:39 PM

Harrison is much bettervon covereage than most give him credit for. He's not a one trick pony by any means.

Shane P. Hallam · 01-10-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC.SD

The next step after that is, everybody gets a trophy! Yay!

Matt Millen gets the "Rick Venturi Award" for hanging onto a job much longer than he should have!

giantsfan · 01-10-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

Harrison is much bettervon covereage than most give him credit for. He's not a one trick pony by any means.

But Ware is great in coverage, just like Ware is exceptional at stuffing the run but Harrison was just even more dominant at it this year.

Mr. Stiller · 01-11-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinslowBodden

Not to mention Harrison has alot more talent around him and the most blitz happy scheme in the league.

It's comments like these that scream "I have no idea what I'm talking about"

We haven't had the need to blitz this season very often. We've been getting pressure rushing 4 guys.

For proof. Troy is lighting the NFL up in the secondary... Why? Because with Harrison and Woodley on the edges we can afford to keep him deep and not have to use him, and everyone else on the field to get any semblence of pressure.

Thats not to say we don't blitz. But I'd doubt we're the most "Blitz happy scheme" in the NFL. Obviously you've never seen the Eagles/Giants.

Mr. Stiller · 01-11-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC.SD

DPOY has gone to non-playoff players before. It's probably a tiebreaker though, which might have happened this year. Seems fair enough if that's the case.

Could it be that the writiers and voters just thought he had a superior season (Not to say that he's the "Superior Player". Ware is lightyears more athletic. I'd say Harrison has more pure strength).

Harrison had votes for MVP. Ware didn't. I don't see why people were so shocked.

BlindSite · 01-11-2009, 05:03 PM

Ware is the best overall linebacker, but Harrison had a better year. He did more for his team than ware, and he did more for his team than any other defensive player, it's that simple.

Burns336 · 01-11-2009, 06:03 PM

More sacks, solo tackles, stops for a loss, and 1 less FF would make it seem like Ware did more for his team. In fact, I can't imagine what the Dallas defense would be without him.

Remove Harrison from the Steelers and they are what?? Probably still a top 5 unit? If not, top 10 for sure.

Take Ware off of the Cowboys and uhhhhh... Well I don't even want to think about it.

Not to mention Ware was just about the only player in the Dallas front 7 that you have to give help to. Teams didn't have to worry about Woodley, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, or Farrior when protecting against Ware.

Just one homers thoughts....