Johnny Knox, Olin Kreutz win 2009 Piccolo Awards

LAKE FOREST -- The Chicago Bears and the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund announced Johnny Knox and Olin Kreutz as the 2009 Brian Piccolo Award winners. The honor has been given to a Bears rookie since 1970 and was expanded in 1992 to include a veteran winner. Bears players vote for the rookie and veteran who best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo.

The only player in team history to receive the Piccolo award more than once as a veteran player, Kreutz has won the award for the fourth time following selections in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Kreutz is heading into his 13th season in the NFL having started each of the last 118 regular season contests with the Bears and 147 of the Bears last 148 games, including the playoffs. One of just nine players in franchise history to be named to six Pro Bowls, only Walter Payton (9), Jay Hilgenberg (7) and Stan Jones (7) have received more all-star selections among Bears offensive players. Kreutz has helped pave the way for six 1,000-yard running backs in his career, all in the last 10 seasons. The former third-round draft pick in 1998 has started all 16 contests in a season nine times in his career, including seven straight years entering the 2010 season.

Knox, the Bears 2009 fifth-round draft choice (140th overall) became the 14th Bears rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl. He returned 32 kickoffs for 927 yards during the 2009 season and his 29.0 average was second in the NFL. In Week 4 versus Detroit, Knox returned the opening kickoff of the second half 102 yards for a touchdown, the second longest kickoff return in team history. Knox's 45 receptions were tied for third most by a Bears rookie and tied for the most all-time by a rookie wide receiver in franchise history. His 527 receiving yards were fifth most in Chicago rookie annals. Knox also hauled in five touchdown receptions to go along with his kickoff return touchdown and his six total touchdowns were tied for fifth most by a rookie in the NFL in 2009.

In all, 52 different Bears have won the award including six others on the current roster: Matt FortÃÆ'ˆ© (2008), Tommie Harris (2004), Devin Hester (2006), Greg Olsen (2007), Charles Tillman (2003 and 2008) and Brian Urlacher (2000 and '07).

Brian Piccolo joined the Bears in 1965, following a senior season at Wake Forest during which he led the nation in scoring (111 points) and rushing (1,044 yards). Piccolo was not selected in the NFL draft, but he signed with the Bears as a free agent and made the club. He was in his fourth season when a chest x-ray revealed a malignancy. Several months later on June 16, 1970, he died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma. At the time Piccolo died, the disease was 100% fatal, but today the cure rate is 95%. He left behind his wife Joy, three daughters, and legions of friends.

Proceeds from the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund benefit breast cancer research at Rush Medical Center and the Clearbrook Center for the developmentally disabled in Arlington Heights.