Joe Cardona wins Ron Burton Community Service award

AP Photo | Charles Krupa

Hard works pays off; and New England Patriots long snapper, Joe Cardona, was recognized for it on Tuesday. The four-year veteran received the team’s Ron Burton Community Service Award at the 2018 Patriots Premiere.

Cardona pulls a double duty as he is both an active service member as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy and a professional football player. During the Patriots’ offseason and once a week during the regular season, Cardona works for the Navy, all while maintaining his attendance and training for the football team.

“Joe is a Patriot in the highest sense of word, on and off the field,” said Robert Kraft during the award presentation. “Service to others is of principal importance to him, first to our country, as well as to our team and to our community. This past offseason, Joe went on a two-week training session to South Korea with the United States Navy Reserves. He serves his country and his team honorably and still manages to contribute by volunteering to serve and support many of our team’s community initiatives.”

Cardona’s reception of this award comes after the 26-year-old signed a four-year, $4.31 million contract extension with the team back in June. So, to say he’s having a good offseason would be an understatement. And what one would think would be a demanding schedule, Cardona handles it with ease, confidence and honor.

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