KC Chiefs: Eric Berry and Marcus Peters Win Awards

The KC Chiefs were well represented with some end of the year awards. What kind of hardware did they take home?

Marcus Peters and Eric Berry were honored in last nights NFL Honors ceremony. Marcus Peters was named ‘Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year’ while Eric Berry took home the ‘Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year’ award.

Marcus Peters didn’t take long to make an impact for the KC Chiefs. He intercepted the first pass he saw in the NFL when the Chiefs squared off against the Houston Texans in the first game of the season.

He racked up the interceptions, recording eight in the regular season and one in the playoffs. He also scored two touchdowns and led the league in passes defended. Some of those gaudy numbers are due to opposing quarterbacks wanting to test the rookie.

While he has a tendency to get beat over the top, he is great on anything thrown in front of him. If he can figure out how to avoid getting beat down the sideline, he’ll be one of the premier shutdown corners in the league.

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This award has gone to some impressive people in the past. Players like Luke Kuechly, Charles Woodson, and the late Derrick Thomas have all taken home the defensive honor. For Marcus Peters to stand among names like that is a promising sign for the young rookie.

Eric Berry is the comeback player of the year. If there was a theme for Kansas City sports in 2015 it was ‘comeback’. The Chiefs and Royals came back from incredible odds to inspire hundreds of thousands of people. Berry’s feat was more impressive.

Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodkins’ Lymphoma midway through the 2014 season. Not only did he beat it, he made it back into the Chiefs’ lineup by opening day of the 2015 season. He maintained his workouts during his treatments which can’t have been easy.

Adam Teicher, who covers the Chiefs for ESPN.com, wrote an article quoting Eric Berry on the award:

"His goal from that point was to be with the Chiefs when they took the field for the first time at training camp the following summer. To that end, Berry pushed himself through physical workouts even during his chemotherapy treatments.“There were some times where I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore,” Berry said. “There were a lot of rough times, rough nights, lonely nights.”"

KC sports teams got accustomed to seeing their teams become fighters. They fought for each other game after game all season long. They played for their fans and for each other.

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Eric Berry epitomizes everything that KC sports’ fans have come to love these past couple of seasons. He’s a fighter who’s unwilling to let the odds beat him.

Berry was also nominated for the ‘Walter Payton Man of the Year’ award. See what Chiefs’ owner Clark Hunt had to say about Eric Berry on his nomination for this award:

"“As a player and a teammate, Eric is known for his leadership both on the field and in the locker room. But his character, determination and heart make him an inspiration. Eric met an unimaginable challenge with faith and perseverance, and his return to the field this season is nothing short of miraculous. All the while, he has maintained his positive spirit and found time and energy to continue his outstanding work in the Kansas City community and beyond. We are proud to see him nominated for one of the most prestigious honors in our game.”"

While Eric Berry didn’t take home this award, the fact that he was nominated further proves his character. Eric Berry is entering free agency this off-season and the Chiefs would like to have him stay in Kansas City. He’s not just one of the best safeties in the league. He’s become somewhat of a hero to Kansas City fans.

The Chiefs had a good season in 2015. The fact that they have some players being recognized for their contributions, both on and off the field, bodes well for the Chiefs. If they can build onto what they’ve started, they have a real shot at contending next season.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

What do you think KC Chiefs’ fans? Is Marcus Peters close to being a ‘shutdown corner’? What has Eric Berry’s recovery meant to you? Are you inspired by the grit this team showed in 2015? Let me know in the comments’ section below.