The Philadelphia Eagles have announced wide receiver Jeremy Maclin as the team's 2014 Ed Block Courage Award winner. Maclin was selected in a vote of his teammates based on team effort as well as individual performance.
The Ed Block Courage Award is named after Ed Block, a long-time head trainer for the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian dedicated to helping children. Recipients are often players who have overcome devastating injuries or tragedies in their personal lives to return to top-level competition in the NFL.
Following an ACL tear early in the 2013 training camp, Maclin spent the year rehabbing the injury in order to prepare for a return in 2014. A first-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2009, Maclin appeared in 61 games with 59 starts prior to the ACL injury and had led the Eagles in receptions in 2011 and 2012.
Through the Eagles' first seven games in 2014, Maclin leads the squad in all major receiving categories, totaling 39 catches for 632 yards (16.2 yards per catch) with six touchdowns.
Maclin, along with one player from each of the other 31 NFL teams, will be honored at the Ed Block Courage Award Banquet in the 2015 offseason.
Previous Eagles Ed Block Courage Award winners: Jason Kelce (2013), Colt Anderson (2012), Mike Patterson (2011), Jason Avant (2010), Michael Vick (2009), Jon Dorenbos (2008), Montae Reagor (2007), Jerome McDougle (2006), Chad Lewis (2005), Derrick Burgess (2004), Correll Buckhalter (2003), Shawn Barber (2002), Duce Staley and Tommy Brasher (2001), Cecil Martin (2000), Mike Mamula (1999), Bobby Taylor (1998), Rhett Hall (1997), Kevin Turner (1996), Charlie Garner (1995), Fred Barnett (1994), Andre Waters (1993), Jerome Brown (1992), David Alexander (1991), Ron Solt (1990), Mike Quick (1989), Wes Hopkins (1988), Gerry Feehery (1987), Jody Schultz (1986), Ron Jaworski (1985), John Spagnola (1984).
Officially formulated in 1986, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is sanctioned by the NFL and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS). The Foundation is committed to heightening awareness of the plight of abused children in cities throughout the league. Proceeds from the annual Courage Awards event benefit the Foundation's Courage House National Support Network For Kids.
In 2011, the Children's Crisis Treatment Center in Center City Philadelphia was dedicated as the Philadelphia Eagles Courage House. The Children's Crisis Treatment Center is a private non-profit agency dedicated to assisting children and their families coping with the impact of behavioral health issues, traumatic events and other challenges that have an effect on childhood development.
