Defensive end J.J. Watt has been voted by his teammates as the Texans' 2012 Most Valuable Player. He was one of several award winners selected by the team on Friday.
Quarterback Matt Schaub received the Texans' Ed Block Courage Award. Guard Ben Jones was named Rookie of the Year. Center Chris Myers was chosen for the Mark Bruener Award, given annually to a player who exemplifies outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, work ethic and commitment to his teammates.
Watt, 23, has the most combined sacks and passes defensed in a season in NFL history with 34.5. He leads the AFC and is tied for the NFL lead with a franchise-record 19.5 sacks. He has set an NFL record for a defensive lineman with 15 passes defensed this season. He also leads the Texans in tackles (74), tackles for loss (33) and quarterback hits (38).
Schaub suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury against Tampa Bay in Week 10 of the 2011 season. He ranks fifth in the AFC this season with 3,555 passing yards and has thrown 22 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, good for a 93.8 passer rating. Schaub's 64.7 completion percentage ranks second among all AFC quarterbacks.
Jones, a fourth-round draft pick who played center at Georgia, worked his way into the offensive line rotation at right guard in Week 2 against Jacksonville. He became a starter in Week 7 vs. Baltimore and has started every game since.
Myers, who was voted a midseason captain for the second consecutive season, has started 78 consecutive games at center for the Texans. Now in his fifth year in Houston, the 2011 Pro Bowler continues to be heavily involved in the community, especially with military veterans.
PREVIOUS TEXANS AWARD WINNERS
2002: Jason Bell (Ed Block)
2003: Aaron Glenn (Ed Block)
2004: Dunta Robinson (Rookie of the Year), Seth Payne (Mark Bruener Award), Seth Payne (Ed Block)
2005: Domanick Williams (MVP), Jerome Mathis (ROY), Mark Bruener (Bruener), Jabar Gaffney (Ed Block)
2006: Andre Johnson (MVP), DeMeco Ryans (ROY), Mark Bruener (Bruener), Kailee Wong (Ed Block)
2007: DeMeco Ryans (MVP), Fred Bennett (ROY), Mark Bruener (Bruener), Anthony Weaver (Ed Block)
2008: Andre Johnson (MVP), Steve Slaton (ROY), Mark Bruener (Bruener), Harry Williams (Ed Block)
2009: Andre Johnson (MVP), Brian Cushing (ROY), DeMeco Ryans (Bruener), Zac Diles (Ed Block)
2010: Arian Foster (MVP), Earl Mitchell (ROY), Chris Myers (Bruener), Joel Dreessen (Ed Block)
2011: Brian Cushing (MVP), J.J. Watt (ROY), DeMeco Ryans (Bruener), DeMeco Ryans (Ed Block)
