The Oakland Raiders have one game remaining in the regular season, as their current 12-3 record has them slated for the playoffs and beyond. As the 2016 NFL season comes to an end, teams began awarding players on the roster they see as representatives of their culture.
On Thursday, the Raiders announced that the third annual recipient of their Craig Long award goes the offensive lineman Donald Penn.
The Raiders’ media relations department and certain members of the local media are given the task to delegate the award, as the Craig Long award honors the player who best exemplifies professionalism and collaboration with the media.
Penn was named to his second career Pro Bowl this season, upon starting every game for one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. He is the vocal leader of the offensive line, which has allowed a league-low 16 sacks this season.
Upon Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Penn will have started in 155 consecutive games, dating back to his days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is currently the second longest active streak amongst offensive lineman, behind Cleveland Browns’ Pro Bowler Joe Thomas (159 games).
Long was a member of the Raiders’ public relations staff from 1997-2004 and tragically passed away at the age of 36.
In 2014, the Craig Long award was presented to defensive lineman Antonio Smith, while it was given to Raiders’ legend Charles Woodson during the 2015 season.
Raiders 411 would like to congratulate Penn on another dominant season, while proving to be a vocal example of the organization to the media.
