nflnewsandtalk:

– DALLAS COWBOYS’ TE JASON WITTEN WINS THE “WALTER PAYTON MAN OF THE YEAR” AWARD FOR HIS WORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE –

Tight end Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his work in helping provide male models for children in domestic violence-ridden families. Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas were also up for the award.

“No question, it’s my biggest individual accomplishment,” Witten said. “He (Payton) was known as sweetness on the field and he had the deep desire to be the best he could be and he did it the right way and to make an impact like he did – that’s what it is all about.”

Witten is involved with several non-profit organizations, but his greatest charitable endeavor is arguably the foundation he created, Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation (JWSF).

JWSF exists to serve women who are the victims of domestic violence and work to end the cycle of domestic violence. One of JWSF’s programs, SCOREkeepers, places full-time trained male mentors in battered women’s shelters throughout Texas. One program, “Coaching Boys Into Men,” trains high school coaches to educate their players on the dangers of dating violence.

Awarding Witten the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is notable following an NFL season which featured former Kansas City Chiefs player, Jovan Belcher, murdering his girlfriend. 

While Witten has accomplished much on the field and in his community, he does not believe that the building of his legacy is finished yet. “I want to be a guy, just like Walter, who tried to be the best player and help his team win championships, but along the way, he tried to make an impact,” Witten said.

Not only are you a great football player, but you’re also a class act #82. Congratulations on the award!

Well done Jason, you make Cowboys fans proud!