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Jay Ratliff has been named the Dallas Cowboys’ recipient of the 2007 Ed Block Courage Award.  Jay traveled to Baltimore, MD on March 11th to receive his award along with representatives from each of the other 31 NFL teams.  

In a vote among his teammates, Jay was selected for his hard work and perseverance in the training room and weight room during the 2007 off-season.  Jay injured his right shoulder on Dec. 25 in a Week 16 contest and was forced to miss the 2006 regular season finale.  Though limited, he returned to the playing field for the playoff game at Seattle.  Immediately after that game he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his shoulder.  He spent the next three months at the facility battling through his rehabilitation.

This past summer Jay returned to the practice field in training camp ready for action.  He not only overcame the off-season surgery to play in the season opener, but quickly became the team’s starting nose tackle when Jason Ferguson suffered a season-ending injury in the opener.  He came on to start the next 14 games on a defense that ranked ninth in the NFL, sixth in the NFL against the run.  Individually, Jay recorded 28 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries and 15 quarterback pressures.  While overcoming the 2006 season’s setback, Jay also became an example for his teammates.  Never an outspoken player, he set, by example, a tone in the weight room and training room during the off-season.  He was also rewarded with a five-year contract extension this past December.

The Courage Awards event is heralded as one of the most prestigious in the NFL.  The ceremony has attracted such honored guests as Weeb Ewbank, Chuck Noll, Don Shula, John Elway, Joe Montana, Bubba Smith and Brian Billick.  The list also includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, Paul Hornung, Art Donovan, Y.A. Tittle, Otto Graham, Gale Sayers, Raymond Berry, Mike Ditka, Lenny Moore, Bart Starr and Doak Walker.

The Ed Block Courage Award was established in 1978 in honor of Ed Block, the head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian.  Each year, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation honors recipients from the National Football League who have been chosen by their teammates exemplifying sportsmanship and courage and has become one of the most esteemed honors bestowed upon players in the NFL.