Tuesday, January 29, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Hines Ward -- 719 catches in 10 seasons
PHOENIX -- For the second time in three years, Hines Ward can win one of the NFL's highest awards on Super Bowl Sunday.
He earned the game's MVP when his Steelers beat Seattle in Super Bowl XL. This time he's one of four finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award that will be presented here Sunday.
He places the honor as high as the one he took home from Detroit in 2006.
"I've gotten a lot of awards; that would be right up there with my Super Bowl MVP," Ward said.
"No question it means the world to me, to sit there and be mentioned with Walter Payton and win that award, not only to be known for my production on the field but off the field as well."
Walter Payton- Chicago Bears (1975-1987)...rushed for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns...1977 NFL MVP...9X Pro Bowl selection...1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The winner will be announced before the Super Bowl. The other finalists are Woodland Hills High School graduate and Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, Kansas City guard Brian Waters and Dallas tight end Jason Witten.
The award is named after Payton, the Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame back who died in 1999. It is the only league award that recognizes a player's community service as well as his performance on the field.
Ward, a four-time Pro Bowler who holds most of the Steelers' career receiving records, established the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation to assist biracial children in South Korea who face discrimination. He donated $1 million of his own money to establish the fund and has raised another $1.5 million. He frequently participates in the NFL's annual Take A Player to School program.
He also co-hosts an annual golf outing to benefit the Caring Foundation, with proceeds benefiting families in western Pennsylvania for healthcare for children and adults.
"I'm all about helping kids, trying to raise money for parents who don't have health insurance," Ward said, "and caring places where kids can go and talk to others who lost a loved one.
Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
Some of the Heinz Field turf kicks up during the Monday night game vs. Miami in November.
"I always want to be known as a great player on and off the field."
Other Steelers who won the award were Jerome Bettis in 2001, Lynn Swann in 1981, Joe Greene in 1979 and Franco Harris in 1976.
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