The first Butkus Award of NFL

The Butkus Award has been given annually to the best academy linebacker since 1985. Now, they have stretched it to embrace NFL jersey and high instruct. The first NFL winners is Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware. He led the league with 20 sacks and six enforced fumbles.
“It’s a great thing to be the first of something, especially to be nominated for something like the Butkus Award,” said Ware, who was named to the NFL jerseys’s All-Pro panel for the third upright year. “To be known as the most well-rounded linebacker, you have to able to fall into coverage, rush the passer but also to be able to break the run when it comes at you.”
To win the Butkus Award, you have to be a completed player.
“The criteria is a three-down player who’s not full out and not an area player, like a lot of them are,” Butkus said. “I’m very ecstatic with the span. He’s a contact player. He goes after it. That’s what I like.”