Amid a flurry of announcements and rules decisions from the NFL owners meetings in Minneapolis comes a new award.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent announced on Wednesday that the NFL will issue the Protector of the Year award at the end of each season to honor the NFL's best offensive lineman.
Vincent credited Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl guard Dion Dawkins and retired Los Angeles Rams All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth for helping facilitate the award. A panel of retired offensive lineman including Whitworth will determine the winner.
"I'm going to give credit to Dion Dawkins from Buffalo," Vincent said, per NFL Network.