Should Dez Bryant Win Walter Payton Man Of The Year Award???

[The_Slamman]

I recently watched NFL Networks A Football Life on Ray Lewis. One of the most revealing parts about the documentary was the human aspect of it. For those who haven't see it, Ray's father abandoned him basically as an infant. He never had contact with his father until much later in life. Ray has forgiven his father and even provides his father with tickets to the games, etc.

Then, I read this article... Ray Lewis Would Like To Help Dez Bryant. At first, I thought it was really cool, again, that Ray Lewis had this human aspect to him where he's looking to help out the younger generation, etc.

Then, I really got thinking about Dez. Yes, he's young and immature. Yes, he gets media attention as a Cowboys player. But, he is also probably the most forgiving person on the planet. For those who don't know Dez's story. He was abandoned by his dad and mom. His dad was a pimp. His mom was a drug dealer. Both were in and out of jail. The mom was arrested for selling crack as recently as 2009 and is currently on a 10 year probation. Dez didn't have a Tuohy family to take him in. And Dez's mom's current lifestyle and life choices go against Dez's religious values.

Notwithstanding all of that, Dez bought his mom a nice home and provides for her and his step brother. Dez doesn't just leave tickets so his mom can watch a game. Dez gives his mom a life that frankly she probably doesn't deserve. He provides for her what a mother should have provided to him when he needed her most.

That's not all. Dez is involved with a tremendous amount of charity work. He started a foundation to help unfortunate kids. I hate to say it, but when I was 23 years old, raising money for and helping at risk kids was the last thing on my mind.

Finally, before any goes to the "he slapped his mom card," no, he didn't. The very night the story broke his brother who was there said that Dez was in the right and he never hit her. The mom was clearly intoxicated and changed her story multiple times. When the police arrived, the found nothing wrong with her... no signs of any abuse. Finally, the mom signed an affidavit of non prosecution wherein she stated that she talked to people who actually witnessed the incident and realized that she was in the wrong. This shouldn't come as a surprise, of course, because Dez's mom has a history of filing false police reports.

So, let's not turn this into Dez bash based saggy pants, passed debts that are currently paid or false police reports. Can anybody honestly think of a more compelling Walter Payton Man Of The Year Candidate than Dez? If so, who and why?
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Quote from May 7, 2013...

[NextBigThing]

Good for him, though he is far from the only person like this. I think Moss deserves, for inspiring the entire city of San Francisco with model behavior.

People with terrible parents (Lindsay Lohan comes to mind) get a lot of pity from me. They are basically the most mature member of their family when they hit age 10.
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The King Does As He Pleases

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[Russell2Bailey]

[NextBigThing]

[be WARE94]

[Russell2Bailey]

[mozwanted]

[Kiltman]

Sure..why not...only award he will win anytime soon.

But seriously, I think the perception around the league about him might hinder his chances to win in conjunction with all that dumb stuff he's done.. Its big of him to forgive like that, but I wouldn't say he's the most forgiving person in the world though and throwing money/a house at someone isn't necessarily forgiving. As for the foundation that's awesome, but dozens of players do that...most players have a charity/foundation they either founded or contribute too every year. From what you wrote slam, He has a shot to be at least nominated I guess.
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[Russell2Bailey]

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