BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Stephen Neal, a former Cal State Bakersfield wrestler and current offensive lineman for the two”\u201ctime defending NFL champion New England Patriots, earned recognition for his work in the trenches, being named the second runner-up for the Tuesday Morning Quarterback Non-QB Non-RB NFL MVP.<\/p>\n
NFL.com columnist Gregg Easterbrook gives the special “award “annually to the NFL’s most valuable non”\u201cquarterback 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.”<\/p>\n
Earlier this season, Easterbrook also honored Neal by naming him to the All-Unwanted All-Pros first”\u201cteam. The award goes to the NFL’s best players who were never drafted or were let go.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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″\u201c10 record. He then went on to win titles at the 1999 World Championships and the Pan”\u201cAmerican Games en route to being named that year’s FILA International Wrestler of the Year.<\/p>\n