Linebacker Khary Campbell has been named the Redskins' winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, given to the player who has persevered to come back from injury.
Campbell overcame a season-ending knee injury in 2004 to be one of the special teams leaders in 2005. The 6-3, 232-pounder leads the Redskins' special teams units with 27 tackles.
Campbell appeared in nine games in 2004 before suffering his season-ending knee injury on Nov. 14 versus Cincinnati.
The Ed Block Courage Award is given out each year by all 32 NFL teams in recognition of players who exhibit persistence in battling back from injury to resume their playing careers. Recipients also need to be solid citizens in their respective communities.
Past Redskins winners have included Brandon Noble, Fred Smoot and Chris Samuels. All winners are honored at a banquet in the Baltimore area during the offseason. The affair brings together all 32 winners and reflects upon the career of Block, the long-time Baltimore athletic trainer.
Campbell joins a group of 2005 Ed Block winners that includes Tedy Bruschi of New England, Steve Smith of Carolina, Koren Robinson of Minnesota and Dale Carter of Baltimore. The entire New Orleans Saints team was recognized for its perseverance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katraina.
During his long months of rehab at Redskins Park in the offseason, the personable Campbell kept a positive attitude going. He had torn his ACL in his left knee and wasn't fully healthy until training camp.
Through 13 games, opponents were averaging just 20.2 yards per kickoff return against the Redskins and 5.4 yards per punt return. Campbell is one of the reasons for those solid numbers.
Asked about his attitude toward playing special teams, Campbell said: "We take a lot of pride in it. With the Redskins, if you're a starter on special teams, you're a starter."
Campbell takes a great deal of pride out of the fact that he's part of a solid group of special teams players that also includes Mike Sellers, James Thrash, Ade Jimoh, Pierson Prioleau and Rock Cartwright.
Says Campbell: "We all need each other out there on special teams. It's not one guy who is making the plays alone."
That's the type of outlook Campbell's teammate like to hear, the one they remembered when they voted him their Ed Block winner for this season.
