Powerful Protection Throughout the 2011Season Earns New Orleans
Saints title as NFL’s Best Offensive Line
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2012--
The Saints offensive line has been selected as the winner of the 2011 Madden
Protectors Award, presented by Prilosec
OTC®. Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach JOHN
MADDEN and Prilosec OTC presented the award, which honors the NFL’s
best offensive line, during a press event in Indianapolis earlier today.
Accepting the trophy on behalf of the New Orleans Saints were offensive
linemen Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, Zach Strief, Brian
De La Puente and Jermon Bushrod.
As a proud seven-year sponsor of the NFL, Prilosec OTC presents the Madden
Protectors Award to recognize the fundamental role offensive
linemen play in their teams’ success by providing reliable protection on
game day, just as Prilosec OTC can provide 24-hour heartburn
protection when used as directed.* The selection process
was based on a number of measures including offensive line statistics –
sacks allowed, rushing and passing yardage, time of possession, O-line
penalties, 3rd and 4th down conversion percentages, red zone scoring
conversions, fan voting plus Madden’s own personal observations
throughout the season.
The Saints players providing the powerful protection throughout the
season were tackles Zach Strief, Northwestern and Jermon
Bushrod, Towson; guards Carl Nicks, Nebraska and Jahri
Evans, Bloomsburg; and center Brian De La Puente, California.
Adding depth on the offensive line were, Charles Brown, USC and Matt
Tennant, Boston College.
“The offensive line doesn’t always catch the fans’ attention, so Prilosec
OTC and I created this award to recognize the guys who provide the
critical run blocking and pass protection,” said John Madden. “All
season long, these five guys proved they had the mental and physical
toughness that enabled the Saints offense to put up big numbers on the
ground and in the air.”
Throughout the regular season, Coach Madden closely tracked the top
offensive lines in the NFL and narrowed the field of contenders to five
(5) finalists: the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers,
Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and the New England Patriots.
Contributing to their Madden Protectors Award win, the New
Orleans Saints offensive line provided reliable run blocking and
powerful pass protection for the top-ranked offense in the NFL. The
Saints led the league in yards per game (467.1) and ranked 2nd in sacks
allowed (24 sacks). They also ranked 1st in total passing yards on the
season (5,347), 6th in total rushing yards (2127), and
finished 2nd in total points scored on the season (547).
Weighing 102 pounds, the Madden Protectors Award trophy is the
heaviest trophy in NFL and serves as attribute to the NFL’s best
offensive line.
NFL fans who want powerful 24-hour protection against frequent
heartburn, or heartburn that occurs two or more days a week, can take a
14-day course of Prilosec OTC.*
* It’s possible while taking Prilosec OTC. Use as directed for 14 days
to treat frequent heartburn.
About PRILOSEC OTC
PRILOSEC OTC® is the #1 Doctor recommended† and #1 Pharmacist
recommended OTC acid reducer‡ for the treatment of frequent heartburn.
PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 selling OTC heartburn medicine* on the market
that can work for 24 hours with one pill a day by directly shutting down
many acid pumps in your stomach when used as directed for 14 days for
treating frequent heartburn. For more information about PRILOSEC OTC,
visit www.prilosecotc.com.
PRILOSEC OTC is available over-the-counter through an alliance between
P&G and AstraZeneca.
† Wolters Kluwer: OTC Acid Reducer Category, through September 2011.
‡ Based on Pharmacy Times 2011 Survey.
* P&G calculation based in part on dollars sold reported by The Nielsen
Company in the US market for the Stomach Remedies Category for the 12
month period ending the week of January 15, 2011.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
P&G touches and improves the lives of about 4.4 billion people around
the world with its portfolio of trusted, quality brands. The Company's
leadership brands include Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®,
Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®,
Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head &
Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, and Ambi
Pur®. With operations in about 80 countries, P&G brands are available in
more than 180 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com
for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS INC.
Formed in 1994, National Football League Players Inc. (NFL PLAYERS) is
the exclusive licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players
Association. Representing more than 1,800 active and many memorable
former NFL players, NFL PLAYERS “takes the helmets off” the players and
facilitates the marketing of them as personalities as well as
professional athletes. Through a sponsorship agreement between the
organization and the NFL, players are integrated into NFL sponsor
activation programs. In addition, NFLPlayers.com, the company's official
website, is part of the NFL Internet Network. Each year, NFL PLAYERS
negotiates and facilitates extensive player marketing opportunities for
players. NFL PLAYERS activities include retail licensing, corporate
sponsorships and promotions, special events, radio and television
projects, publishing and Internet. For more information, visit www.NFLPlayers.com.
Source: Procter & Gamble
MSL New York
Katie Burton, 646-500-7837
katie.burton@mslgroup.com
or
Riber
Sports Marketing Group
Evan Fedders, 513-624-2106
evanfedders@ribersports.com
or
NFL
Wyndam
Makowsky, 212-450-2785
wyndam.makowsky@nfl.com
Touching lives, improving life. P&G™