Thomas, Olsen, Rivers, Gore among Rooney Award nominees
Three members of the 2015 AP All-Pro team - Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas, Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda and Seattle kick returner Tyler Lockett - are among the 32 finalists for the NFL's Art Rooney Award recognizing sportsmanship.
The winner of the award, established in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, is determined by a vote of current NFL players. A panel of former players will select eight finalists, four from each conference. Panel members are Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, Warrick Dunn, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler.
The 2016 winner will be announced during the NFL Honors show on Feb. 4, the night before the Super Bowl. The Associated Press individual awards, including MVP and Coach of the Year, also are announced during NFL Honors.
Last year's winner was safety Charles Woodson of the Raiders. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals was the inaugural winner of the award in 2014.
Two second-team All-Pros from 2015, Carolina tight end Greg Olsen and Atlanta fullback Pat DiMarco, also have been nominated. The other nominees:
Arizona Cardinals - DT Calais Campbell
Buffalo Bills - DT Kyle Williams
Chicago Bears- LB Sam Acho
Cincinnati Bengals - WR A.J. Green
Dallas Cowboys - CB Brandon Carr
Denver Broncos - LB DeMarcus Ware
Detroit Lions- S Glover Quin
Green Bay Packers- LB Julius Peppers
Houston Texans- LB Brian Cushing
Indianapolis Colts - RB Frank Gore
Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Paul Posluszny
Kansas City Chiefs - LB Derrick Johnson
Los Angeles Rams - DE Robert Quinn
Miami Dolphins - T Branden Albert
Minnesota Vikings- CB Terence Newman
New England Patriots- S Devin McCourty
New Orleans Saints - T Zach Strief
New York Giants -WR Victor Cruz
New York Jets- WR Brandon Marshall
Oakland Raiders - QB Derek Carr
Philadelphia Eagles- RB Darren Sproles
Pittsburgh Steelers- LB Arthur Moats
San Diego Chargers - QB Philip Rivers
San Francisco 49ers- T Joe Staley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans - QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins -QB Kirk Cousins
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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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