The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
By Gayle Saunders
The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. Prior to 1999, it was called simply the NFL Man of the Year Award. Shortly after Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton died (having been the 1977 recipient himself), the award was renamed to honor his legacy as both a great player and a humanitarian. Each year, a winner is selected from 32 nominees from the 32 different teams. A panel of judges, which includes the commissioner of the NFL, Connie Payton(widow of Walter Payton), the previous year’s winner and a number of former players, selects the winner of the award. The Man of the Year winner receives a $25,000 donation in his name to a charity of his choice. The other 31 finalists also receive donations in their name of $1,000 each to charities of their choice.
Be on the lookout for your favorite NFL team’s nominee. I hope you take the time to offer words of encouragement for all their hard work. You can also take this opportunity to look into each particular players foundations and find out how you can lend a helping hand, and make a difference in someones life.
Cato June – Not just an ordinary man!
Skinnypost was started back in August of 2009 and in our short inception I have had the priviledge to chat with some football players via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some of the players that I have reached out to have not had the interest in recepricating with people they don’t know…and honestly that is understandable considering their fame. In a world like we have today one can never be too cautious so I won’t fault anyone for staying private. Others however have always been very gracious and given time to say “hello” or made the time to chat about music, sports and online gaming interests. Leaving the football fan with a feeling that these are just regular people like you and I, Cato June is one of those men. Once you dig deeper, you see he is anything but regular…he is spectacular. Read more
Reggie Howard – A Giant in the Community
A young man walked on to the University of Memphis…little did anyone know at the time the impact that he would he have in the lives of others. He then went on and played in the NFL and has made sure to leave a legacy. His work in the community is special. He touches children, parents and others in ways that make everyone affiliated with him proud. Reggie is a young man who is dedicated to reaching the lives of America’s youth to make an impact. Read more
Warrick Dunn – Building more than a legacy!
By Steve O’Reilly
Very few people have affected others in the way that Warrick Dunn has. His generosity is legendary and now it’s time to shine some light on all he has been through, all he has done and what he continues to do. Read more
Larry Fitzgerald – A Higher Cause!
As many NFL fans may have noticed, it is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. In order to promote awareness the NFL has asked teams to show their support by wearing pink, either with their shoes, gloves or wristbands. This disease has effected many women in America and this is the story of how it affected one NFL player in particular, Larry Fitzgerald. Read more
Earnest Graham – A Two Way Street!
By Steve O’Reilly
Down in Southwest Florida there is a man who everyone knows. He is a man of class, grace and integrity, someone to emulate. A local guy who hasn’t forgotten where he came from who knows how to make a difference in his community. That man is Earnest Graham. Earnest has had such an impact in Ft. Myers, FL that the City dedicated a street after him, Earnest Graham Avenue. The man from Mariner High School in Cape Coral, just outside of Ft. Myers, went on to play college ball at the University of Florida and was later signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 after being undrafted coming out of college. A Florida guy through and through! Read more
La’Roi Glover – Big Man, Big Heart!
By Steve O’Reilly
On the 4th of July the people of America celebrate with cookouts, hot dogs and fireworks. The Glover family celebrates all those things and something more. In 1996 the Oakland Raiders selected a small (if 6′-2″ and 290 pounds can be considered small) Defensive Tackle out of San Diego State University named La’Roi Glover. Throughout his college and pro career he had been labeled too small to succeed and was considered undersized to play the interior lineman position, one that often boasts of men well over 300 pounds. In the NFL the Offensive and Defensive lines are known as the point of attack with scouts and coaches usually prefering very large men to anchor those positions. That didn’t stop La’Roi as his determination, hard work and solid character led him to greatness. Read more
Nnamdi Asomugha – A diamond in the rough!
By Steve O’Reilly
Once in a blue moon a player comes along who has it all. The work ethic, speed, grace, positive energy and likeability as a player and a person. When those special guys come along – we like to talk about it. Out in Oakland, they have had their fair share of struggles over the last 6 years. Numerous coaching changes and a lack of stability in the front office have defined the Raiders rebuilding effort. Oakland has averaged just 4 wins a season over that period and through all the hard times and struggles as a franchise one man has stood head and shoulders above the rest, that man is Nnamdi Asomugha, the diamond in the rough! Read more
Mark Clayton
In 2005 the Baltimore Ravens selected Mark Clayton with the 22nd overall pick in the NFL Draft. How lucky for the people of Baltimore. When looking for players who are just as valuable off the field as on the field, Mark Clayton makes his presence known. Here are some of the great things that Mark has accomplished in just 4 years.
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