Video: Bills' Dion Dawkins Makes Case for NFL 'Protector of the Year' Award for OLs

The NFL doesn't have any sort of Offensive Lineman of the Year award, and Buffalo Bills' tackle Dion Dawkins wants to see that change.

"Offensive lineman don't have awards for being great," he told reporters Thursday. "There's not a 'Protector of the Year' award. I'm knocking on so many doors now to get this award going. I'm gonna head spear it and make sure this gets done before I'm done playing. Because there's so many greats. So many greats. We have great quarterbacks, we have great running backs, we have rushing titles, we have quarterback passing titles. All of those titles are reflections of the O-lineman, which are the protectors."

He makes a good point. Even on the college level, multiple awards honor offensive lineman. The Lombardi Award goes to the nation's best collegiate lineman, tight end or linebacker; the Outland Trophy is given to the best interior lineman (offense or defense); and the Rimington Trophy is awarded to the best center.

NFL awards for players are limited to the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (which honors a player's off-the-field contributions to their community). The MVP is essentially a quarterback award at this point, while the Offensive Player of the Year generally goes to the best running back or wide receiver, leaving offensive lineman without any sort of distinction to chase outside of Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

If Dawkins has his way, that situation will someday be rectified.