News

Vikings G Anthony Herrera has been selected as the 2011 Ed Block Courage Award recipient by his teammates.  

Herrera battled back from offseason knee and elbow surgery to return to the starting lineup despite missing the final 6 games of 2010 following his knee injury. A classic over-achiever, Herrera joined the Vikings in 2004 as a rookie free agent, moving from practice squad to the regular roster and eventually earning a starting role.

An emotional leader on the team, Herrera has 66 career starts in his 76 career games played entering this weekend’s game at Detroit and has started the 3 career playoff games he has been in. A native of Trinidad, he moved to the United States in junior high and picked up football after being a soccer player as a youth. Herrera became a U.S. citizen in 2008.  A conscientious member of the community, Herrera has participated as a team spokesman for the Tackle Influenza campaign along with regular Vikings Victory Visits to local hospitals and the Adoption Family Fun Fest.  

Since 1984 the Ed Block Courage Awards annually honors one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected by a vote of their teammates to recognize both on and off the field extra efforts and their ability to overcome great adversity, whether it be personal or professional. The Ed Block Courage Award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Winners travel to Baltimore every March to receive their trophy at a gala in their honor and spend time at the local Courage House at St. Vincent’s Center, a facility specializing in working with abused children. This visit, and the time spent with the children, allows each recipient to fully comprehend the true meaning of the award.

For more information on the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, visit www.edblock.org.

Past Vikings Ed Block Courage Honorees

Cedric Griffin......... 2010

E.J. Henderson....... 2009

Kenechi Udeze...... 2008

Chad Greenway..... 2007

Matt Birk............... 2006

Koren Robinson..... 2005

Corey Chavous....... 2004

Eric Kelly................ 2003

Lewis Kelly............. 2002

Daunte Culpepper. 2001

Gary Anderson...... 2000

Robert Griffith....... 1999

Randall Cunningham 1998

Robert Smith......... 1997

Scottie Graham...... 1996

John Randle........... 1995

Cris Carter.............. 1994

Henry Thomas....... 1993

Darrin Nelson......... 1992

Terry Allen............. 1991

Gary Zimmerman... 1990

Jim Gustafson........ 1989

Leo Lewis............... 1988

Scott Studwell........ 1987

Walker Lee Ashley. 1986

Keith Nord............. 1985

Steve Riley............. 1984