Witten A Finalist For NFL Man of the Year
DallasCowboys.com
January 22, 2008
He is going back to the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight year.
He was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
He broke all of his own individual records and produced one of the finest seasons by a tight end in NFL history.
To think that Jason Witten's season could get any better would seem unlikely.
However, the Cowboys tight end has the chance to claim one more prize, and a prestigious one at that.
Witten was named one of four finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, which will be announced live just before Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
The award, named after the NFL's legendary running back who died in 1999 after a battle with cancer, is the only league honor that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service contributions as well as his performance on the field.
Along with Witten, the other three finalists are Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and Chiefs guard Brian Waters.
The four players will be in Phoenix for Super Bowl weekend and will participate in a press conference on Friday, Feb. 1, along with Payton's wife, Connie Payton.
"What I do on the field is important and my job, but I know that playing for the Dallas Cowboys and in the National Football League has afforded me the unique opportunity to contribute off the field - to make a difference in the lives of those in need," Witten said in a statement. "To be a finalist is a great honor and I am proud just to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Payton. I respect and admire what he stood for - as a player and in his life away from the game."
Witten would become the third Cowboys player to win the award, along with Troy Aikman (1997) and Roger Staubach (1978).
A panel chose the four finalists from the 32-team nominees for the award, all of whom receive a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. The four finalists will receive an additional $5,000 donation in their name. The selection panel is comprised of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King, football greats Frank Gifford and Jack Kemp, 2006 co-winners LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees, and Connie Payton.
The winner of the award will receive the distinctive Gladiator statue, along with a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
Witten is coming off the finest season of his five-year career, leading the Cowboys with a career-high 96 catches, just six shy of Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez' NFL-record 102 catches.
Witten also had 1,145 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
He is one of an NFL-best 12 Cowboys headed to the Pro Bowl and among five offensive starters, along with Terrell Owens, Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode and Flozell Adams.
Witten also edged tight ends such as Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow Jr. on the first-team All-Pro squad.
But Witten also is a finalist for the Walter Payton award because he's just as productive off the field.
He recently launched the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation, established in part to provide support and assistance for families and individuals affected by domestic violence. Witten appeared in an NFL/United Way public-service announcement, stressing the importance of volunteering. The spot was filmed at Witten's annual free football camp in his hometown of Elizabethton, Tenn., where more than 1,000 children attended in 2007.
Witten starred in another PSA with Gates and Saints running back Reggie Bush for the NFL's Play 60 program, which emphasizes the importance of getting kids up and active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Here's a list of the previous winners:
2006 - Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson
2005 - Peyton Manning
2004 - Warrick Dunn
2003 - Will Shields
2002 - Troy Vincent
2001 - Jerome Bettis
2000 - Derrick Brooks and Jim Flanigan
1999 - Cris Carter
1998 - Dan Marino
1997 - Troy Aikman
1996 - Darrell Green
1995 - Boomer Esiason
1994 - Junior Seau
1993 - Derrick Thomas
1992 - John Elway
1991 - Anthony Munoz
1990 - Mike Singletary
1989 - Warren Moon
1988 - Steve Largent
1987 - Dave Duerson
1986 - Reggie Williams
1985 - Dwight Stephenson
1984 - Marty Lyons
1983 - Rolf Benirschke
1982 - Joe Theismann
1981 - Lynn Swann
1980 - Harold Carmichael
1979 - Joe Greene
1978 - Roger Staubach
1977 - Walter Payton
1976 - Franco Harris
1975 - Ken Anderson
1974 - George Blanda
1973 - Len Dawson
1972 - Willie Lanier
1971 - John Hadl
1970 - Johnny Unitas
