Trae Waynes has been chosen as the Minnesota Vikings 2016 nominee for the NFL's third-annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, the league and team announced on Tuesday.
The award was created to recognize players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field and honor the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr.
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 (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The panel is comprised of Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler, who spent one season in Minnesota.
Newman, a first-round pick of Dallas in 2003, is in his 14th pro season and second in Minnesota. He is the active leader with 41 career interceptions and well-respected by teammates and opponents.
The eight finalists will be voted on by NFL teams on Dec. 16 when players also cast their votes for the Pro Bowl. Teams are not allowed to vote for their own players for the sportsmanship award or on Pro Bowl ballots.
Charles Woodson was recognized in 2015, and Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald was named the inaugural winner of the award in 2014.
The winner of the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award will be announced during the nationally televised NFL Honors show on Saturday, Feb. 4 on FOX, the night before Super Bowl LI. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. He will also 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.
Here are the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Nominees:
Arizona Cardinals: DT Calais Campbell
Atlanta Falcons: FB Patrick DiMarco
Baltimore Ravens: G Marshall Yanda
Buffalo Bills: DT Kyle Williams
Carolina Panthers: TE Greg Olsen
Chicago Bears: LB Sam Acho
Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green
Cleveland Browns: T Joe Thomas
Dallas Cowboys: CB Brandon Carr
Denver Broncos: LB DeMarcus Ware
Detroit Lions: S Glover Quin
Green Bay Packers: LB Julius Peppers
Houston Texans: LB Brian Cushing
Indianapolis Colts: RB Frank Gore
Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Paul Posluszny
Kansas City Chiefs: DB Derrick Johnson
Los Angeles Rams: DE Robert Quinn
Miami Dolphins: T Branden Albert
Minnesota Vikings: CB Terence Newman
New England Patriots: S Devin McCourty
New Orleans Saints: T Zach Strief
New York Giants: WR Victor Cruz
New York Jets: WR Brandon Marshall
Oakland Raiders: QB Derek Carr
Philadelphia Eagles: RB Darren Sproles
Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Arthur Moats
San Diego Chargers: QB Philip Rivers
San Francisco 49ers: T Joe Staley
Seattle Seahawks: WR Tyler Lockett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans: QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins: QB Kirk Cousins
