Cleveland Browns Name Controversial Linebacker Myles Garrett as Team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year

Myles Garrett was named by the Cleveland Browns as the franchise’s 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Garrett is among the 32 nominees chosen by the NFL teams to win this year’s award, which includes the likes of other superstars such as Russell Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, and Travis Kelce.

Excellence on and off the field

Walter Payton, widely regarded as one of the finest running backs ever to have graced the league, received the NFL Man of the Year Award as it was earlier known back in 1977.

The award was given to an NFL player who demonstrated excellence both on and off the field on a yearly basis. It was later renamed the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 1999, following Payton’s untimely demise, to celebrate his life’s work as a humanitarian.

‘It is truly an honor’

In a statement released by the Browns, the defensive linebacker said he was honored and humbled to be chosen for the award. “It is an honor to be named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for my team,” said Garrett.

“It is of incredible significance just to be honored and have that kind of recognition because Sweetness was a hell of a man and a hell of a football player.

“He has been recognized and gone down in history for his off the field passions and what he did for people in his community and all across the world.

“I would like to keep that going. He is one of my favorite running backs, as well as players. To be in the same sentence as him and the same breath is an honor in itself,” he added.

Cleveland Browns man’s heroics in East Africa

In 2019, Garrett was named the active player captain for Waterboys, which focuses on bringing clean water to communities in East Africa.

As the skipper, he directed a team of active NFL players to help address the clean water crisis. Earlier this year, Garrett made a 2-week trip to Tanzania to help install wells and experience the impact first hand.

He also reached out to those in need of food and other vital resources amid the Coronavirus pandemic with some help from the Cleveland Hope Exchange and local businesses.

Murky past with the helmet

Garrett was handed a 6-game suspension last season for his role in an ugly on-field brawl with Steelers backup quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Garrett was handed the lengthy suspension after attempting to hit Rudolph in the head with the latter’s dislodged helmet.  Garrett later revealed that he had almost quit the league following the suspension, but took the time off to self-introspect.

The time away from the pitch has seemingly done him well; for it isn’t every day that one is chosen to be the recipient of such a coveted honor.

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