Two Broncos Honored With End-of-Season Accolades

On the doorstep of this season coming to a merciful end, two Denver Broncos players were honored with an accolade, the team announced on Thursday. Starting left guard Dalton Risner will be presented with the 16th annual Darrent Williams Good Guy Award, while the Denver chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) will recognize Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain II with the second annual Demaryius Thomas Team MVP Award.

The Good Guy Award honors the legacy of former Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was shockingly murdered on New Year's Day in 2007. The award is given to the "Bronco who best exemplifies Williams’ enthusiasm, cooperation and honesty while dealing with members of the press."

While some might question Risner receiving the Good Guy Award after his altercation with backup QB Brett Rypien on Christmas Day, it's important to remember what this accolade is about. Former PFWA president and long-time ESPN Denver beat writer Jeff Legwold issued a statement explaining exactly why Risner was tapped for the award.

“Like many of the state’s natives who have played for the Broncos before him, Dalton is often sought out by media outlets from across the state on a variety of topics in addition to the usual requests from those around the team each day,” Legwold said. “He was cited for his willingness to address a variety of subjects with care, and in another difficult season on the field, the many who voted for him said he handled himself with unfailing professionalism.’’

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The Good Guy Award is about how a player is perceived by the media in terms of his openness and willingness to be available, not necessarily his comportment on and off the field. It's worth noting, however, that Risner has been a stalwart off the field since arriving as a 2019 second-round draft pick, with his dust-up with Rypien being the only negative exception.

Teddy Bridgewater won the Good Guy Award last year and now collects his paycheck from the Miami Dolphins. With Risner also in a contract year, it's very possible that Denver's Good Guy is wearing another team's colors next season.

The Demaryius Thomas Team MVP Award honors the legacy of the long-time Broncos wide receiver who passed away suddenly on December 9, 2021. When deciding who to grace with the award, the criteria comes down to which player "best exhibits Thomas’ impact on the team both on and off the field."

Surtain is definitely the right man for the DT Team MVP Award. In his second season, Surtain earned a Pro Bowl selection and has been one of the few consistently bright spots in Denver.

“Pat Surtain is a fitting winner of an award named for Demaryius,” Legwold said. “Surtain’s quiet professionalism and consistent on-field excellence each week in a difficult year made him a landslide winner.’’

The Broncos' latest season of woe is about to conclude with a homestand vs. the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Striving to avoid being swept in the AFC West for the first time in many decades is the only thing the Broncos really have left to play for.

That's something, anyway. For what it's worth, the Chargers are the only AFC West team the Broncos have defeated since 2020. The Broncos are 0-5 against divisional opponents this season, having already been swept by Kansas City and Las Vegas.

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