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Di's Walter Payton Tribute
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| NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award |
 Walter Payton FOREVER  Cris Carter 2000 Winner |  |
NFL HONORS PAYTON By: Jeffrey Timms (DBS Editor) Date: 01/28/2000 It became official today what Bears fans have been asking for since the death of Walter Payton. Today, the NFL, and commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that the NFL Man of the Year Award will be changed to the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. From Atlanta, NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue announced that the NFL has finally decided on a lasting tribute to the game's greatest runningback, and surely one of it's finest men; Walter Payton. |
The Sports Network established the Walter Payton Player of the Year Award in 1987, and it has been presented annually to the top college football player on the Division I-AA level. The winner is chosen by a nationwide panel of college sports information directors. Along with the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and the Buck Buchanan Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Walter Payton Award is the first such award honoring an individual on the Division I-AA level.
Payton, who played his college ball for the I-AA Jackson State Tigers, is the leading scorer in NCAA history with 464 points. He scored 65 touchdowns for the Tigers, while rushing for 3,563 yards. Payton also kicked five field goals and 54 PATs.
However, Payton's collegiate accomplishments pale in comparison to the numbers he posted in his professional career. He is the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 15,726 yards, and the Chicago Bears all-time leading scorer with 750 points. He also is the holder of eight NFL records and 27 Bear records. Payton became the youngest player to be voted NFL MVP at the age of 23 for the 1977 season.
As active as he was on the field, Payton is equally active in charity work off the field. He was honorary chairman for the 1983 Heart Association Jump Rope for Health, and for the Illinois Mental Health Association from 1978 through 1980. Payton is also involved with the Boy Scouts, March of Dimes, Brian Piccolo Research Fund, United Way and the Peace Corps. The Sports Network's establishment of the Walter Payton Player of the Year Award, in addition to the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, the Buck Buchanan Defensive Player of the Year Award and the I-AA Top 25 poll, has helped bring long overdue attention to college football on the Division I-AA level.
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The award is named after legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, who died in 1999 of liver cancer. Bettis was chosen for the award over finalists from the other 30 NFL teams. The winner is selected by a blue-ribbon panel that includes NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, football legends Frank Gifford, Jack Kemp and John Mackey, 2000 award co-winners Derrick Brooks and Jim Flanigan, and Payton's widow, Connie. Winners of the award include 13 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and also some of the greatest names in NFL history. Here's the full list: 
2001 -- Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
Walter & Connie Payton Foundation104 North Barrington | Streamwood, IL 60107-154 | conniepayton@payton34.com | www.payton34.com
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© 1997-2003
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1976 -- Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
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