The Miami Dolphins announced their team award winners. Two of the winners won’t come as a surprise, but one them might be.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill won the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award. Defensive end Cameron Wake also took home the Don Shula Leadership Award and tackle Jason Fox claimed the Nat Moore Community Service Award.
This was the first time Tannehill won the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award, which was voted on by the South Florida media and the Dolphins organization. In 15 games this season,
“It’s huge for me and the guys around me I think because in order for a quarterback to play well the guys around him have to be playing well also. I think it’s a huge honor,” said Tannehill. “I love that I got it, but at the same time, you have to give a lot of credit to the guys around him.”
Tannehill has thrown for 3,786 yards, 26 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. His 67.0 completion percentage is on pace to be the second-highest in Miami Dolphins franchise history.
“I think it is well-deserved,” said Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. “He’s shown good progress this year. I certainly congratulate him on the award. I think he deserved it.”
Wake won the Don Shula Leadership Award for the second straight season. The award is voted on by the Dolphins players. Wake became just the sixth player in franchise history to win the award in back-to-back seasons, joining Zach Thomas (1998-99), Derrick Rodgers (2000-01), Junior Seau (2003-04), Jason Taylor (2006-07) and Karlos Dansby (2010-11).
“I can’t really put it into words, really humbling,” said Wake. “I don’t really value too many people’s opinions outside of this locker room. Obviously, you’ve got people from all types of areas of this country pointing fingers about what we have in this locker room. For the guys here to state their opinion, state their views about who you are, that’s what means the most to me.”
In his sixth season in the league Wake recorded 33 tackles (29 solo), 11.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, and forced three fumbles. Because of his excellent season, Wake was named to his fourth Pro Bowl earlier this month.
In only his first season with the Dolphins, Fox was named the Nat Moore Community Service Award winner, which is given to the player who is recognized for his involvement in the South Florida community. The annual winner of this award is chosen by the Miami Dolphins Foundation.
“Just to see the kids smiling, whether it’s visiting a hospital, visiting cancer patients or visiting sick kids, just doing something, anything to brighten up their day,” said Fox. “(That) can really turn their lives around. You see kids and people in those situations, you realize there’s things bigger than football. Anything to brighten up those people’s lives means a lot.”
Fox, who played collegiately at the University of Miami, volunteered for more events than any other Dolphins player on the team. He became a regular face at community events throughout the season.
