CINCINNATI — Prilosec OTC has teamed with the National Football League and hall-of-fame coach and commentator John Madden to create a new award for players.

The Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award presented by Prilosec OTC recognizes the performance of top NFL offensive linemen, based on their 2009 regular season performance. The Procter & Gamble Co. over-the-counter antacid brand is a five-year sponsor of the NFL.

Plans call for the inaugural Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award to be presented during Super Bowl XLIV Week in Miami.

"I am happy that Prilosec OTC has created an annual award that recognizes the NFL’s best offensive linemen," Madden said in a statement. "The guys up front are the ones that provide powerful protection, just like Prilosec OTC."

During this season’s playoffs in January, NFL fans will be able to cast their vote for the league’s best offensive line by visiting www.MaddenProtectorsAward.com on the Prilosec OTC web site. Criteria for selecting the award winner will take into account statistics from the full season’s performance, a combination of opinions from the NFL and fan voting.