Running back Kyle Long has been selected as the Bears' nominee for the second annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes those who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
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| Matt Forte |
The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select eight finalists from the 32 nominees. The panel is comprised of Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler.
The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award when players vote on December 18. From the eight finalists, each team's players will submit a consensus vote of its choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.
The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.
In 2014, the players chose Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals as the inaugural winner of the Art Rooney Award.
The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced during the nationally televised "5th Annual NFL Honors" show on Saturday, February 6 on CBS, the night before Super Bowl 50.
He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. He also will receive a trophy that represents the important role that sportsmanship plays in the game and how NFL players that demonstrate integrity and honor on the field serve as role models for players at all levels.
