Cleveland Brown defensive tackle Desmond Bryant was recently awarded the 2014 Ed Block Award. He was selected to receive the award by his teammates. The Ed Block Award is given annually to a member of each of the 32 NFL teams who exemplifies the qualities of Ed Block, the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, based on courage, compassion, commitment and community. Bryant joined the other 31 winners for the formal presentation on May 16, 2015 at The Hilton Baltimore.
Bryant is an East Bladen graduate and a graduate of Harvard University. Following his college graduation, he signed as a free agent to play professional football with the Oakland Raiders and later with the Cleveland Browns.
“Not only has Des consistently produced for our defense and continually improved throughout the season, but his passion and toughness provide a great example for our entire team on how to ‘Play Like a Brown,’ said Head Coach Mike Pettine.
Bryant, who spent the final four weeks of the 2013 season on reserve/non-football injury due to an irregular heartbeat that was corrected with a cardiac ablation, leads all Browns defensive lineman with 43 tackles (21 solo), ranks second on the team with 4.0 sacks and has added one pass defensed and one fumble recovery in 2014. He started 12 consecutive games in 2014, missing only the season opener after bouncing back from wrist surgery in August.
After signing with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2013, Bryant started 12 games at defensive end and led Cleveland in QB harassment’s while compiling 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The Harvard product was placed on reservation/non football injury on December, 2013, and underwent cardiac ablation two days later.
In 2014, Bryant participated in the Brown’s Dream Days at training camp, First and Ten Salute to Service practice visit in November and holiday meal preparation at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank prior to Thanksgiving. The sixth-year veteran also contributes at various youth football camps during the off season, including an annual event for Bladen County youth at East Bladen High School.
Bryant was originally presented the 2014 Ed Block Courage Award at Providence House’s 19th Annual Deck the House Benefit at First Energy Stadium in Cleveland. Browns OL Joe Thomas and his wife served as honorary co-chairs at the December event.
Providence House in Cleveland fights to end child abuse and neglect by protecting at-risk children, empowering families in crisis and building safe communities for every child.
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