The Miami Dolphins season is just a few days from coming to a close — but not before the team honored their standout performers on and off the field. The team announced their annual award winners for the 2019 Miami Dolphins season, adding one new name to the list of winners for the Dan Marino MVP, Don Shula Leadership Award, Ed Block Courage Award and the Nat Moore Community Service Award.
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick brought home both the Dan Marino MVP and the Don Shula Leadership award, while wide receiver Albert Wilson was named the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. The Dolphins’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Davon Godchaux, was named the winner of the Nat Moore Community Service Award.
Perhaps the only argument to be made here was one for Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker to challenge Fitzpatrick’s winning of the Dan Marino MVP. But ultimately, it was Fitzpatrick’s reinsertion to the lineup that kickstarted Miami’s offense and Parker’s production alike — so who are we to argue too much?
Fitzpatrick’s impact on the Dolphins has been deniable and his winning of the team’s MVP and leadership award make him just the fourth player in team history to win both awards in the same season. The first three? Chad Pennington in 2008, Jason Taylor in 2002 and 2006 and Dan Marino back in 1995 — according to the team’s press release.
Fitzpatrick’s reaction? He’s humbled.
“I’m humbled by it. It’s awesome. I think again, it’s something that we’ve worked through a lot of adversity this year and to be a guy regarded as that by whoever it was that voted for it, I’m proud,” said Fitzpatrick.
“I’m proud to receive the award and to be named that; but overall, I’m happy to be one of those guys that stuck with it throughout the whole year and continued on a positive trend and continued to keep guys going a little bit.”
