EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Call it a repeat performance for Captain Munnerlyn.
The Vikings cornerback was named Wednesday by the Twin Cities chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America as the winner of the 2016 Korey Stringer Good Guy Award.
The award was established in 2001 in memory of Stringer, a former first-round pick who tragically passed away Aug. 1, 2001.
"Back to back, wow," Munnerlyn said. "This definitely is an honor to receive this award.
"I didn't know Korey, but I heard a lot of good things about him," Munnerlyn added. "To receive this award on behalf of him and his name is definitely big."
Munnerlyn, who has 49 total tackles (according to the coaches' tally) and three passes defensed in his third season with the Vikings, said he respects the give-and-take of talking to the media.
"I feel like it's always been a pleasure to talk to you guys and express myself on how I'm feeling and how the team's feeling and things like that," Munnerlyn said. "Without you, a lot of things wouldn't get out – good and bad.
"But at the same time, you all have embraced me. I came in to Minnesota, and you all have been taking care of me," he added. "It seems like even when I'm not playing as well, you guys always come up and talk to me. I don't know if it's because I'm always a straight shooter or I'm just an honest guy, but it truly is a blessing to receive this award."
Tim Yotter of Viking Update presented Munnerlyn with a plaque commemorating the award.
Yotter said it was the first time since the 2003-04 seasons, when Daunte Culpepper was selected in consecutive seasons.
Munnerlyn said the 2016 season has certainly been a roller-coaster, whether it was injuries to Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson, not making the playoffs after a 5-0 start, or having Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer undergo multiple eye surgeries and miss the Dallas game.
"This has been the weirdest and the craziest season I've ever been a part of," Munnerlyn said. "But now I can say I've been through something crazy and weird.
'"It's definitely been crazy and weird, but at the same time, it's making us better as men and as football players," he added. "Now I can move on from this season after this Sunday and be like, 'Man, I have been through the ups and downs,' and now you just have to crawl your way out. We have to see how this team's going to respond next year and the year after that."
Munnerlyn, who will be a free agent this offseason, said he'd like to remain in Purple if possible going forward.
"Hopefully I'm back around; I want to be here," Munnerlyn said. "I feel like I've grown up a lot here, I know the scheme in and out now, and I know the organization – I know the coaching staff and I know my teammates.
"You know, it's not up to me. It's definitely a business," he added. "But if it was up to me, I'd definitely like to be here."
KOREY STRINGER GOOD GUY AWARD WINNERS
2001 Byron Chamberlain TE
2002 Matt Birk C
2003 Daunte Culpepper QB
2004 Daunte Culpepper QB
2005 Koren Robinson WR
2006 Antoine Winfield CB
2007 Ben Leber LB
2008 Bobby Wade WR
2009 Visanthe Shiancoe TE
2010 Ben Leber LB
2011 Percy Harvin WR
2012 Chad Greenway LB
2013 Kevin Williams DT
2014 Brian Robison DE
2015 Captain Munnerlyn CB
2016 Captain Munnerlyn CB
