NFL.com columnist Gregg Easterbrook gives the special "award" annually to the NFL's most valuable non–quarterback or running back. Easterbrook, who pens the whimsical weekly column Tuesday Morning Quarterback, honored Neal above a host of worthy honorees on the Patriots team because "Neal has been a blocking machine this season." He adds, "Neal earns extra gold stars because he did not play football in college."
Earlier this season, Easterbrook also honored Neal by naming him to the All-Unwanted All-Pros first–team. The award goes to the NFL's best players who were never drafted or were let go.
Neal has anchored the Patriot's offensive line that has been ravaged by injuries this season. He has starting every game and helped lead New England to its fourth playoff berth in five seasons.
Prior to playing in the NFL, Neal was a standout wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield, winning a pair of NCAA championships and posting a career 156–10 record. He then went on to win titles at the 1999 World Championships and the Pan–American Games en route to being named that year's FILA International Wrestler of the Year.
Easterbrook is a senior editor of The New Republic, a contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. He contributes his Tuesday Morning Quarterback column to NFL.com readers each week during the NFL season. His columns can be found at http://www.nfl.com/writers/easterbrook.
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