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The New Orleans Saints announced Thursday that they named left tackle Terron Armstead their 2019 Man of the Year, nominating him for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This recognition is reserved for players nominated by their teams after showing exemplary on-field performance and off-field strength of character. Previous Saints nominees include Drew Brees, Cameron Jordan, and Benjamin Watson.
It’s a big honor for the man protecting New Orleans’ blind side. Armstead has battled through a painful high-ankle sprain in recent weeks, missing two games before he was able to gut through the injury in Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers. And his impact is palpable — without Armstead in the lineup, Brees has logged an average time to throw of just 2.49 seconds. But with Armstead protecting him, Brees has been able to hold onto the ball for 2.71 seconds, which means a world of difference.
In addition to his high level of play, Armstead has been a leader in charitable efforts in the New Orleans community. He recently gifted several dozen bicycles to schoolchildren at the DePaul Community Center and has often used his weekly off-day to visit local schools and children’s hospitals. He’s also participated in his teammates’ youth football camps during the offseason, doing his part to support their own efforts at community outreach.
It’s great to see Armstead earn this recognition, and it’s a strong reminder of just how much good work NFL players are doing when they aren’t battling each other during games. The Saints know they have a great leader in Armstead, and he’s someone they clearly value highly within the organization.
Congrats to @T_Armstead72: our 2019 Man of the Year, making him the #Saints nominee for the @NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award! ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/Sb4uS39hBV
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 12, 2019
The full list of nominees from around the NFL is embedded below, but you can also find it at this link. The award’s winner will be announced during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIV.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by @Nationwide honors players who have not only exhibited excellence on-the-field, but whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game. Meet this year’s nominees: https://t.co/UXT71rnv2F. #WPMOY pic.twitter.com/MrNdNhxZfm
— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2019
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