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S Juston Burris voted Browns 2019 Ed Block Courage Award recipient

Posted December 10, 2019 in Articles

Cleveland Browns S Juston Burris has been selected by his teammates as the Browns’ 2019 Ed Block Courage Award. The Ed Block Courage 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.

“I’m humbled, very humbled,” said Burris when learning he would be the Browns’ honoree this year. “I’m thankful that my teammates thought of me in that light and that they see the hard work I put in to come back to be here to help this team win. I just want to say thank you to them and just for being there and helping me through everything that I went through. I really appreciate them for that.”

In addition to showing his resiliency after offseason shoulder surgery, Burris has been a reliable presence on defense since returning to Cleveland on Sept. 20, two days before he would ultimately start at safety against the L.A. Rams on Sunday Night Football. While playing every defensive snap in the primetime matchup, he notched four solo tackles and intercepted Rams QB Jared Goff with 2:46 remaining in the game to provide the Browns a final opportunity to level the score during a 20-13 loss to the defending NFC Champions.

“As soon as I came back, they welcomed me with open arms,” Burris added. “Any questions that I had, anything that I needed help with because maybe some things had changed, they were there to help me. I just appreciate them for showing me support and making me feel confident going into [the Rams] game that they trusted me to come in and do what I had to do to help the team.”

This season, Burris has started eight of his 11 games with the Browns, registering 22 tackles (18 solo), his first career sack (vs. Pit., 11/14), two interceptions, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. He is one of only two Browns with multiple interceptions this year, and his four passes defensed tie for fourth on the team and second among Cleveland DBs. Additionally, he has played every defensive snap in three of those contests.

After joining the Browns for the final seven games of 2018, Burris re-signed with Cleveland during the 2019 offseason when he ultimately underwent shoulder surgery and started his rehabilitation process. Burris spent all of training camp and preseason with the Browns before being waived during final roster cuts. He was then claimed by the Oakland Raiders, where he was on the active roster for two weeks prior to coming back to Cleveland.

“Definitely, my mom and my dad are my inspiration – things my parents taught me, to keep fighting no matter whatever the circumstances is,” Burris said. “Things are going to happen in life and you just have to keep pushing. Do not make excuses, just keep pushing and just go through it. One quote kind of helped me through it, ‘You grow through what you go through.’ That has kind of been my motto over time. Things are going to happen so you just have to keep fighting.”

Burris has also been active in Browns Give Back’s efforts in the Northeast Ohio community and the team’s commitment to education, youth football and the First and Ten volunteering movement. Last week, he advocated for mental health awareness efforts through his commitment to Dream the Impossible, a foundation launched by his former NY Jets teammate and current Jaguars S Doug Middleton. Dream the Impossible was founded to help fix the lack of awareness surrounding mental health in the African American community.

Burris will be presented the Browns’ 2019 Ed Block Courage Award tonight at the Providence House Annual Deck the House Benefit Auction at FirstEnergy Stadium, where the program will begin at approximately 6:15 p.m. Browns alumnus WR/KR Josh Cribbs and his wife, Maria, are once again serving as honorary co-chairs for the event.

Providence House’s Deck the House at FirstEnergy Stadium tonight, The Get 2 School Network school visit, complemented by the “Get 2 School, Stay in the Game!” Network visit to Mound STEM School this afternoon, highlights Day 3 of Browns Give Back’s “10 Days of Giving.”

Throughout “10 Days of Giving,” spanning Dec. 8-17, Browns players, coaches and staff will host unique community events and make special contributions to various organizations during the holiday season as part of the team’s yearlong commitment to education, youth football and inspiring others through its signature First and Ten volunteer movement.

The extended week of community engagement, initially inspired by the Browns’ signature #give10 First and Ten volunteer movement, has expanded in recent years to fully encompass the team’s commitment to supporting school attendance in Ohio through the “Get 2 School, Stay in the Game!” Network and its yearlong efforts to enhance youth and high school football throughout the state.

Providence House, the Cleveland Browns Courage House for Children since 1999, protects at-risk children and supports families through crisis, strengthening communities to end child abuse and neglect. For more information, visit www.provhouse.org.

Original Article: http://https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/s-just...

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