BLOODY SOCK AWARD FOR TOUGHEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

This Award typically goes to an athlete that fought through injuries, or severe adversity. Someone who displayed an almost inhuman ability to tolerate pain. Just think about JD Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury. This Award goes to guys who are the opposite of them.

The winner this year is...

Wes Welker



In a way, the Patriots' 2009 campaign ended when they lost Wes Welker. And surprisingly, the 2010 season started with him ready to go. I remember how pumped he was after catching his first ball of training camp. How he darted with all the elusive alacrity of a minnow on speed.

He didn't have his best year as a Patriot, but you could do a lot worse. 86 receptions for 848 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was 1 shy of matching his career high TD mark. And the only game he missed was #16, when the Patriots decided to finally rest the man recovering from torn ACL and MCL injuries.

Guys like Wes Welker have character. They exemplify the whole "mind over matter" thing. They live to compete, to play, to win.