Scandrick Delivers Emotional Speech at Kickoff Luncheon

Injured Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick was named the team’s 2014 co-Defensive MVP along with defensive end Jeremy Mincey at the annual kickoff luncheon at AT&T Stadium on Wednesday, and in collecting his award, the veteran delivered a highly emotional, tear-filled speech and vowed to come back better than ever.

This time last week, of course, Scandrick was undergoing surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament and the torn medial cruciate ligament in his right knee.

“I wanted to talk about how it gives me a sense of structure, it gives me some brotherhood, talk about the organization,” Scandrick said after his speech, per the Dallas Morning News. “I’m happy to be a part of such a structured, progressive group of people. I’m going to take this time and I’m going to heal and support these boys in the best way I know, give them all the knowledge that I got and the goals should still remain the same. It’s going to be tough to be on the sideline.

“I promise you, and I say this from the bottom of my heart, I’m going to come back and I will be a better football player than anybody has ever seen me be around here.”

Scandrick added that he plans to stay around the team while rehabbing.

“I believe in [athletic trainer Britt Brown] and whatever it takes,” Scandrick said. “It doesn’t make any sense for me to be hanging around California if that’s not doing anything. I only ever went to California for my kids, so we’ll just have to figure it out. I mean, I’m hurt and this is my livelihood, football, and I have to be [here], it’s the most important thing. Me not being here just says I don’t want to play football again. Why would I go anywhere else? I’m not a free agent. I’m signed for four more years.”