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The NFL has announced their list of every club’s nominee for the “2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award” with the Browns’ Jarvis Landry as their candidate.
This award is given out annually to one player in the league honoring his volunteer work plus the time he has spent with various charitable organizations. Each club nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community and charitable causes.
The winner receives $250,000 for their favorite charity donated in their name. Each of the 31 runner-ups receive a $50,000 donation. The winner is selected from a panel that consists of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the 2018 winner plus several former players.
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A special Walter Payton Man of the Year badge is then worn on the winner’s jersey to signify his efforts as well as the honor. Currently, there are six former winners still playing: Eli Manning, J.J. Watt, Thomas Davis, Drew Brees, Jason Witten and Larry Fitzgerald.
The first award was given to Baltimore Colts’ quarterback Johnny Unitas in 1970. From 1970 - 1998, the award was simply called the “NFL Man of the Year Award.” In 1999, the NFL decided to honor Payton after his death, one of the league’s greatest philanthropists.
Eight winners have come from the AFC North and represent every team in the division except Cleveland. The last five years the Browns’ nominees were:
2018 LB Christian Kirksey
2017 TE Randall Teifer
2016 OT Joe Thomas
2015 TE Gary Barnidge
2014 LB Craig Robertson
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Last year, Landry hosted a charity softball game at Classic Park in Eastlake that benefited local charities. In the past, he has been involved in the Special Olympics. In 2018, he helped raise money for cystic fibrosis with sales of a special T-shirt called the “65 Roses” shirt. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one of Landry’s favorite charitable recipients.
The full list of 2019 nominees:
Cardinals running back David Johnson
Falcons safety Ricardo Allen
Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr
Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson
Bengals running back Giovani Bernard
Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry
Cowboys center Travis Frederick
Broncos safety Justin Simmons
Lions linebacker Devon Kennard
Packers linebacker Blake Martinez
Texans defensive lineman D.J. Reader
Colts cornerback Pierre Desir
Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell
Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt
Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu
Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth
Dolphins defensive lineman Davon Godchaux
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph
Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy
Saints tackle Terron Armstead
Giants tackle Nate Solder
Jets center Jonotthan Harrison
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey
49ers cornerback Richard Sherman
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans
Titans center Ben Jones
Washington long snapper Nick Sundberg