Dec 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) celebrates with quarterback Josh McCown (12) after defeating the Cleveland Browns 38-31 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Josh McCown’s acceptance speech, read by Jay Cutler.
“I apologize for my absence today. However, I thought it would be out of line with the spirit of the Brian Piccolo Award to leave my current teammates in what is a crucial time of the building process this offseason. I asked my teammate that I spent the most time with to share some more of my thoughts with you.
“2013 will always be special to me because of the men I worked with every day. I’d like to thank my teammates for allowing me to represent them with this award. I say that because you can’t be chosen for something like this in golf or tennis. It takes a team.
“Which makes this more a celebration of a team’s relationship than of one person. The opportunity to come to work every day to build authentic relationships with your teammates or co-workers starts from the top. The McCaskey family, especially Pat, I can’t thank you enough. What flows from there to the general manager’s office to the group in ticket sales, the people inside Halas Hall are always willing to serve.
“2013 will always be remembered as a special season in my life because I learned so much. The core values in my faith have been strengthened and that experience alone is priceless. There’s a scripture that says, ‘Perfect love casts out all fear.’ And that was brought to light many times throughout the 2013 season.
“The most vivid moment was when I was pressed into action halfway through the season. I was flooded with emotions when I took the field with concern for my injured teammate but also anxious over how I’d perform. The anxiety began to go away when I remembered the countless hours we had put in. We had built trust and the brotherly love and we served one another in the early stages of learning the offense. When my focus turned away from myself and onto my teammates, I gained a peace and my fears were gone.
“Coach Trestman said many times that what one of us does affects all of us. That’s what makes receiving this award so humbling. I remember watching the movie ‘Brian’s Song’ as a kid in my cousin’s living room. It was humbling to hear the love and affection his teammates had for him. Gale Sayers acknowledged his love for Brian (Piccolo) and encouraged other to love Brian themselves. That’s what makes being a teammate such a special deal. The moment we understand it’s not about me but of serving those around us, when we try to get others to love the others around us more than ourselves, that’s when we capture what Brian Piccolo was all about. To my teammates and coaches and everyone at Halas Hall, thank you and God bless.”