Courage comes in many forms for NFL players, personnel

But the Chicago Bears? quarterback persevered and played every game of the season for the first time in his career last year. To top it off, Grossman, who missed nearly all of the 2005 season with a severe ankle injury, led the Bears to an NFC-best 13-3 record and the franchise?s first Super Bowl appearance in 21 years.

While Chicago lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, Grossman gained the respect of his teammates, who selected him as their representative for this year?s Ed Block Courage Award, which he received Tuesday at Martin?s West.

“It?s a cool thing because you?re always looking for the respect of your teammates,” Grossman said. “And for them to vote for me for this award was something special. It was a special year to play the whole season. To play 19 games, win a playoff game in overtime and to get to the Super Bowl was amazing. We?re just one step away from being world champions, and it gives us motivation for next year.”

Grossman was one of 32 NFL players to receive an award Tuesday night, with each one of them having to overcome something extraordinary either on or off the field. The stories ranged from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer coming back from a gruesome knee injury during the 2005 playoffs to Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jerome McDougle returning after being robbed, shot and nearly killed in 2005.

Awards were not handed out only to players, though. The banquet also honored Ricky Sandoval, the Detroit Lions? director of security, who was diagnosed in April with inoperable pancreatic cancer.

“So many people have to deal with and go through things that might not be apparent to the general public,” said former Lions coach Steve Mariucci, who presented the award to Sandoval. “There are so many people that have misfortune and disadvantage in their worlds. Those people that have to go through that and deal with it on a daily basis are the ones who gain our respect.”