Each year since 1998, trainers for the National Football League, members of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society, have presented an award to the outstanding team physician.

This year's winner of the Jerry "Hawk" Rhea award is Dr. Anthony Yates of Sewickley, an internist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who has been a team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1977. Mr. Rhea was the head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969 to 1994.

"The bottom line about Tony Yates is that he treats all the athletes with their best interest in mind and has a 'leave no stone unturned' attitude toward patient care," said John Norwig, the head athletic trainer for the Steelers. "He is not just our team physician but an integral part of the Steeler family."

A nationally recognized authority on sports medicine, Dr. Yates is president-elect of the NFL Physicians Society.