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2003 Award Honoree Shelton Quarles Middle linebacker Shelton Quarles of the 2002 Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers is known as a poised leader who displays outstanding playmaking skills on the football field. He utilizes his great speed and athleticism to run down opponents from sideline to sideline. For his efforts, he was named to his first Pro Bowl team in 2002. But off the field, Quarles displays a different type of leadership and play-making skill. Quarles was honored last year as an "Unsung Hero" at the 30th Annual NFL/NFL Players Award Gala. The Gala recognized 32 players who were selected by their teammates for best exemplifying dedication and love of football, fans and community. The Unsung Heroes Award is designed to honor those exceptional players who rarely receive attention and often do not receive recognition for their contributions to the community. Quarles served as the honorary captain for the Fire Department of New York football team -- the Bravest Football Club -- in a game against the Orlando Guardians, a team made up of Orlando public service officers. The game was part of the National Public Safety Football League, which is a union of public safety agency football teams from throughout the U. S. that raise funds for 9/11 charities. Quarles' birthday is September 11. Quarles also has been involved in volunteer recruitment and fundraising efforts for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, and he adopted a little brother in 1997. Quarles, who has played seven years in the NFL, had a career-high 159 tackles and a personal best two interceptions in 2002. One interception was returned for a touchdown against Cincinnati. In his career, Quarles has recorded 380 tackles and 77 special-teams stops, and has four career interceptions. Shelton and his wife, Damaris, have two children, Gabriela and Shelton
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