Ryan Clady stands six-and-a-half feet tall, weighs more than 320 pounds, and has an even bigger heart.
On Friday, Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville announced Clady as the recipient of this year’s Ed Block Courage Award for the Denver Broncos. All 32 NFL franchises recognize one player who exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage for the award selected by his teammates.
“It’s definitely an honor to get this award,” Clady said. “I worked hard during the offseason to get where I am now and I’m definitely blessed to be in the position I am.”
The third-year offensive tackle suffered a knee injury in April, but that did not stop him from starting the team’s season opener in Jacksonville.
Thanks to diligent work rehabilitating his knee with Broncos Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos, Clady has started all 14 games this season, increasing his career starting streak to 46 games.
He has started every game for Denver after the team selected him as the 12th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft from Boise State University.
“Ryan is a class-act player who is undoubtedly deserving of this season’s Ed Block Courage Award,” Antonopulos said.
“His courage, hard work and dedication are apparent with his remarkable return from a torn patella tendon he suffered in April. During his rehab, he was consistently ahead of schedule, and it takes a very special mindset and a very big heart to make that quick of a recovery.”
All 32 Ed Block Courage Award recipients from around the NFL will be honored at a banquet in Baltimore in early March.
The annual award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian.
The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is an NFL-supported charity dedicated to recognizing courage in the league while improving the lives of abused/neglected children in NFL cities throughout the country.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Jeff Byers got his first Christmas present a little early this year.
After the Broncos placed Matt Prater on injured reserve on Thursday, they signed Byers to the active roster from the practice squad on Friday.
Byers earned All-America honors at Loveland High School in Loveland, Colo., before becoming a three-year starter at the University of Southern California. Now the rookie offensive lineman has a spot on the active roster of his hometown team.
“You never know where life takes you, and I’m really fortunate that life took me here,” Byers said. “I ended up here in front of my family and my friends. This community has given a lot to me when I was in high school. It just seems so fitting that I’m back here and I can do something for them.”
Studesville announced on Friday that he has pushed the Saturday practice schedule back to allow the players time to spend with their families on Christmas morning.
The coach said the best present he ever received came on Friday night, when his wife surprised him by flying two of his uncles into Denver to spend the holidays with their nephew. Tim Tebow also said there will be “about 16 Tebows” in town to celebrate with the quarterback and take in his second start as a pro.
“There will be more Tebows (laughing). There are not that many Studesvilles (laughing),” Studesville said. “The biggest thing this time of year for me is time with family. I love being around my family and sitting around and laughing and hearing their voices. So, if I’m around them – that’s why it made it so special that my uncles are here. The noise level goes up in the house and that is a good thing. So, seeing them and being around them is the best present I could have.”
After an injury to his ribs took him out of last weeks game in Oakland and kept him off the practice field on Wednesday, Knowshon Moreno got back to work on Thursday.
“He’s sore, but he got out, he practiced and got a bunch of reps,” Studesville said. “He wanted to take most of them, because he had missed Wednesday. We got him some work that we felt we needed to get him.”
With another day of practice on Friday, the coach said he expected his top running back to ready to face the Houston Texans at home on Sunday. Having worked closely with Moreno as the former running backs coach, Studesville said he observed “a little bit more bounce” in Moreno’s step.
The running back agreed, saying he always has a high-energy level.
“I always have a little bounce,” Moreno said. “I feel good.”
Studesville also said the team is hopeful they will have Demaryius Thomas available for Sunday. He said Brian Dawkins “is doing well” on the practice field after missing the past three games with a knee injury.
“He has practiced the last two days, got a little bit more each day – progressively involved a little bit more,” Studesville said of the safety. “We are looking forward to having him out on the field – his leadership and who he is.”
Moreno (ribs), Thomas (ankle), Dawkins (knee), David Bruton (ribs), Darcel McBath (quadricep) and Kyle Orton (ribs) were all limited in practice on Friday and are all questionable for Sunday. Daniel Coats (finger) and Eddie Royal (lower back) fully participated in practice and are probable.
For the Texans, TE Garrett Graham (hamstring) did not practice on Friday and is out, and WR Andre Johnson (ankle) did not practice and is questionable. DT Damione Lewis (illness) did not practice and is probable, K Neil Rackers (right hamstring) did not practice and is probable and LB Brian Cushing (knee/ankle/foot) was limited in practice and is probable. DE Mark Anderson (knee), T Duane Brown (shoulder), RB Arian Foster (hip) and QB Matt Schaub (right elbow) fully participated in practice and are probable.
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Below are pictures from Friday’s practice:
Tags: 2010, Broncos Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos, Denver Broncos, Ed Block Courage Award, Ryan Clady
Congrats to you Ryan Clady for all your hard work and effort to get back to playing at such a high level after the injury you sustained. Your an all pro and a big fan of yours. God bless.
Congrats to Ryan…indeed a class act and great player…Im sure he wil be better rested for next season and with any luck, we may be running the zone blocking scheme again…A scheme he loves. Thats why I like clady…not only did the broncos choose him…he chose the broncos way before we even drafted him…Career bronco right there. TRB out…
Congrats to Clady indeed. It’s not often you hear me or anyone else say they truly enjoy watching an offensive linemen play, but I have enjoyed every minute of watching Clady play so far in his career. For someone his size to be so quick and agile is really rare. He’s a fun player to watch. So again, congrats Ryan Clady.
Ditto on all the above congratulations Clady, you came back way quicker than anyone had expected, that takes a lot of courage and hard work, you da man!
Hey Ryan, no basketball in the off season! LOL I’m not a jersey wearing guy but if I ever buy one, it will be yours. The best dang offensive tackle in the NFL! Congratulations and merry xmas!
Congratulations Ryan! An honor well deserved.
Best wishes to you and the Team, during the last two games of the season.
Happy Holidays!
Very good selection by Studesville. Congratulations Clady!
Wanna wish all my Broncos family a very Merry Christmas! Hope you all get Broncos gear,more Broncos gear, and even more Broncos gear. Haha! I’m off to church! Yall be safe and see yall after the game!
Broncos and Tebow Buckin in Nawlins!!
Congrats on the award big guy,you deserve it after all that you’ve been thru,and still are the best LT in the NFL!
I WANT TO WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF MY BRONCO BROS,AND THE ENTIRE BRONCO FAMILY!!!
HAVE A GREAT ONE!
BFE
Yes indeed. Merry Christmas too everyone in the Broncos organization. And merry Christmas to all the fans and bloggers on here as well. Cant wait till Sunday to see how Tebow does starting again. Happy Hollidays everyone!!!
Merry Christmas to all. May God have his blessings for all of Broncos Country and even Raiders and Chargers fans!
Tebow time!
Go Broncos!
BTW- 27/17 Broncos!
Agreed – well done Ryan and Merry Xmas to all from ths side of the pond.
A close high-scoring loss this week to seal the number 2 pick. Probably a pick or two from Tebow, but lots of promise as well.
Texans 34 – Broncos 24
HoHo, Merry Christmas everybody!
Last day for score predictions, no picks on game day.
DEN-28
HOU-42
Den- 30
Hou-37
Ryan Clady is a really good LT. He went from Boise State Bronco to Denver Bronco!
Prediction:
HOU- 20
DEN- 23
Happy Merry Joyfull Christmas everyone!
I think our Broncos are going to win tomorrow…
Broncos 35
Texans 31
GO TEBOW!!!!! ILMSDB!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
Congrats Ryan. Thanks for your work on and off the field!!
And a Very Merry Christmas to all here and eveyone in Broncos Country.
And to the fader nation I guess this goes out to you also! (ouch)
From the FTR family.
I hope we win tomorrow for 2 reasons…
1. I’d love to see Tebow get his first win
2. I’ll be at the game and there’s nothing like a win when you’re there!
But I’ll be ok if we lose for the same reason as everyone else.
31 – 27 Texans
A very Merry Christmas to everyone!!! Have a great day!!!
Merry Christmas to everyone, have a wonderful day! congrats Ryan!
Can either of these defenses stop anybody?
41-34 Texans.
Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone.
Texans 34
Broncos 27
31-27 Texans.
Bay
34-23 Texans… I hope I am dead wrong, can’t wait to see TT to get his first win in his first start at Mile High! Come on guys, that would be awesome!!! We can loose on week 17 anyways!
BAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Broncos 33
Texans 24
Well, last week I predicted that our boys lose out the season, but it must be some crazy christmas cheer going on with me…..or all the rum I drank tonight but…….
I see the Broncos showing up tomorrow and playing a helluva game on 3 sides of the ball….
Texans 21
Broncos 35
GO TEBOW! Light that s%$t up man!
Hope everyone has had a great day! Congrats Mt. Clady.
I was blessed to receive so many nice and wonderful gifts today. I must say, the copy my grandma gave me of ‘Denver Broncos The Complete Illustrated History’ is a very nice item.
I would LOVE to get it autographed by the author!!! (hint, hint)…
Flipping through it and I must say its a collectors item for sure
GO BRONCOS!!! DEFENSE in 2011
Andre Johnson likely out! He afraid of the Champ???
lol… Pound by pound!!!
All score predictions are in, no picks on game day.
Happy Game Day, good luck everybody!
Well we got a white Christmas where I live for the 1st time since ’76,pretty awesome!!!Just wished I hadn’t slipped and fell down the steps,lol.I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas like I did.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
Elway interested in Andrew Luck??? say it ain’t so John!
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16937541
Man we need some D in Denver,c’mon John!
TEBOW is our QB!!!!!!!!
NFL Network reports that Elway said,”it would be hard to pass on Luck.”I just bought an authentic Tebow jersey,damnit!!! I hope like Hell we don’t draft a QB,don’t make me change my mind about wanting Elway making the descisions around here,be smart man,we need Defense!!!!!!!!
Hopefully we don’t try to trade picks with Carolina and give them our 1st and another pick,that would be ridiculous.IMO.
just heard that too BFE. Give up on Tebow and waste a pick on another QB. Just doesn’t sound smart… stupid actually
I heard the Broncos reached a settlement with the Ex HC. That we looked into getting out of his contract for just cause, and both sides settled for an undisclosed amount….?
BFE, I think JE was saying that any team with the #1 pick would have a hard time passing on Luck. The Broncos obviously are not going to get the #1 pick so I think what JE said is being read wrong a little tad…jomho
ILMSDB!!!
Yeah, in fact Mortensen on espn this morning just said that Elway basically said that if Luck was available for the Broncos in the draft it would make it nearly impossible to pass him up. A lot less uncertainty with that guy the way I see it, like John said IF Tebow can remain healthy he will be a good one. Obviously he is very concerned with his way of playing as far as health is concerned, and I agree 100% it’s hard to build a team in this league around a guy who’s strength is not in the pocket. Whatever John would decide to do about our QB situation I would definitely not criticize it, I mean the best QB all time ought to know a little more about QB values than I do, LOL. And it seems now nearly a certainty according to Klis that Elway will be hired within the three days following the last game.
But BFE, I understand your connundrum and possible frustration since you just bought an alternative orange Tebow jersey, like I said I found a great one on sale at the mall here last week but I decided to wait until next year to make that move, haha. We are going to be in a complete rebuild top to bottom, so anything could happen, not a good time for jersey purchasing….
Elway is from standford…its his alma matter…of course he is interested…if it wasn’t for the Tebow draft last year, I would be too…Kid looks pretty solid….But I will take Tebow over luck anyday…Tebow has that Vick type potential with no character flaws…Luck on the other hand will probably be a very good pocket passer but Tebow when things break down….he is who i want…And with this young line/team…there will be a lot breaking down. Either way, this was why many of us wanted too see Tebow since bye week…to understand more going into the next draft…but its too late…that ship has sailed…we have drafted so much offense the past like…DECADE…we need D…no questions asked. Every year theres a QB that people swear will be the next “insert name here” and doesn’t always happen like that. I believe it was bay that said, usually a new coach gets to choose his QB but thats not a luxury we can afford with this new HC…within the last 5 years we have drafted 2 first round QBs….can’t make it 3 times within 5 years…wasted picks…
If Carolina think Claussen is their man they will be more than glad to trade down to #2, just saying. I think you Tebow lovers best bet might be to win today and next Sunday to get out of the top picks, haha.
Well I guess since I haven’t worn my TT jersey,I’ll just leave it in the plastic,and wait till next year before I wear it,I knew I should have waited,I agree with TRB,don’t draft 3 first round QBs in 5 years,wasted picks.IMO.
I think Luck will be a great NFL QB,but we have too much invested in TT to use our 1st round pick on a QB,3 picks and his contract.jomho.
Don’t get me wrong,I didn’t base my opinion on buying the jersey,just hate to see us draft an unproven QB,when we need so much help on Defense!
Another thing was said on the espn NFL countdown this morning, that the top brass say the new coach will not be tied down to having to start Tebow…. Not a whole lot of Tebow backing in the news this morning…. This afternoon will be a big interviewing process for Tebow in my opinion, my recommendation is since you are playing against arguably the worse secondary in the league, pass it all over the place, because if you rely on the running game in this one it will raise more questions than answers.
Honestly I dont care if the next Peyton Manning/tom brady was in this draft…DRAFT DEFENSE…its a simple concept…when your D gives up 30 pts a game…dont care who it is at QB they will rarely put up more EVERY week. And we now know that patch jobs from FA and whack mid and late round picks have not worked for us. Draft young first round Talent…once again..WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY to go offense…Every year theres always tempting offense…we will survive without it…I believe in TT…and if it aint TT…maybe the year after next or the year after that we draft a QB…but to draft another QB would sicken me. Hard to pass up…but draft is all about passing up on temptation and drafting what you need and right now we NEED a defense…we have NEEDED a defense for years….gotta break this dumb offense drafting cycle eventually or we will forever keep on saying….”maybe next year” THE TIME IS NOW. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE. ALL I WANT IS DEFENSE IN 2011…If I don’t get it…people will find out how critical me and other broncos fans can REALLY be…
Well said bro!
Baylin
honestly, there is rarely ever tebow friendly news…except when he was torching in college…since then all it has been is doubt and scrutiny. Thanksfully Tebow feeds off stuff like that…man, i like TT…he gets hype and vocal even tho he is younger than pretty much everyone on the roster….kids got fire…you let him loose…he will work wonders I believe…Yea I know its not you I gotta sell Tebow too…its the upper enchilons but im just saying lol. But I agree…if they don’t let tebow play like a QB this week and next week…more questions will keep coming up
Specially with all the Tebow jersey purchasers, LOL, most sold jersey in the league, that would be about as negative a way to go into next season as any, at least from a financial point of view, so it’s hard to believe Bowlen would agree to Luck. Maybe that’s what’s taking so long for an agreement to be reached with Elway, concerns over the Tebow situation?
Why would anyone put all their hopes in Lady Luck anyway? LOL
Probably cuz elway thinks Luck is the next him lol. Its just like those who thought Quinn was the next blank, alex smith was the next blank, Matt Lienart was the next blank….Heck everyone swore clausen was technically the most pro ready in draft lol. And once the rookie season is over…they are like an after thought and it is time for the next new shinning toy lol. But yea…He is a rookie QB like any other…but he will probably have a Bradford type year. If I was the Vikes I would trade with the panthers…smart thing for the panthers too not unless they dont believe in clausen…vikings have a retty bad record and need a QB…so if they trade thier first (which is a pretty good pick) and another pick or player…they can get luck. Smart move for panthers…get more picks..i think…vikes better lose the rest of their games lol