http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2010/02/07/..._the_year/

Congrats to former Mean Green player Brian Waters !

Features
G Brian Waters Named the 2009 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Feb 07, 2010, 5:17:12 PM


The National Football League announced on Sunday that Kansas City Chiefs four-time Pro Bowl G Brian Waters has been named the 2009 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Waters becomes the fifth player in Chiefs history to receive this prestigious accolade, the highest total of any NFL franchise since the award’s inception in ‘70. Waters was previously named a finalist for the honor in 2007.

“We are extremely proud of Brian’s history of service to the Kansas City community, and he is very deserving of this tremendous honor,” Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said. “Being good stewards of our role in the community is an important point of emphasis for our organization, and Brian is one in a long line of players, coaches and other members of the Chiefs family who dedicate time, resources and most importantly, compassion to our community. We congratulate Brian on this outstanding recognition.”

“I am so appreciative of my wife, family, the National Football League, the Kansas City Chiefs and my teammates for their support,” noted Waters. “Most of all I am thankful to the many organizations and families that partner with the 54 Foundation. Their generosity and kindness have been a blessing to us. It is an honor to be considered for, and to win this illustrious award! I hope that I can be an encouragement to others to get involved and impact their own communities.”

Waters’ heart and passion led him to establish the Brian Waters 54 Foundation in 2004. Since that time tens of thousands of children and families in the Greater Kansas City area and in Texas have been impacted. To date, his foundation has awarded 82 college scholarships to low-income students. Meanwhile, thousands of children have benefited from his back-to-school program that provides backpacks full of school supplies, as well as haircuts, uniforms, shoes, immunizations and dental care. In all, the foundation works closely throughout the year with more than 20 different agencies. Waters has also served as a spokesperson for numerous NFL and Kansas City Chiefs outreach campaigns.

A veteran of 10 NFL seasons, this Waxahachie, Texas native has played in 147 games (133 starts) in his career with the Chiefs. He earned Pro Bowl berths following the 2004-06 and 2008 seasons. A former collegiate tight end and defensive end at North Texas, Waters entered the NFL ranks as a rookie free agent with Dallas in ‘99. He signed with Kansas City in 2000 and started at center for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe that spring before eventually earning a spot in the starting lineup for the Chiefs in 2001.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, named for the legendary Chicago Bears running back, is unique among league honors. It is the only league award that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service, as well as his playing excellence. Former Kansas City players who have taken home the Gladiator Statue which is given to the winner include three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: LB Willie Lanier (1972), QB Len Dawson (1973) and LB Derrick Thomas (1993), as well as 12-time Pro Bowl selection G Will Shields (2003).

I've always thought that award should be renamed the Sweetness in honor of Walter Payton. Everyone knew him as "Sweetness" but I'll admit that it would be a weird name to anyone who didn't know Payton's nickname.