<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Springs Nominated For Community AwardJanuary 26, 2006Veteran cornerback Shawn Springs has been an outstanding player for the Redskins in his two seasons in Washington, D.C. Now Springs has been lauded for his leadership in terms of giving back to the community.Springs has been named the Redskins' nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the NFL player who makes significant impacts in NFL competition and in community service.Since coming over from the Seattle Seahawks in 2004, Springs, the nine-year NFL veteran, has been involved in many events for the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.Last October, for instance, Springs was a keynote speaker at the Redskins Charitable Foundations's "Fourth & Life Forum" at FedExField. He addressed more than 500 freshmen student-athletes from local high schools, encouraging them to take their academic work seriously.Said Springs: "When I was young, I had no idea I would become a pro football player. I knew I had to do well in school because if I didn't I would be limiting myself. I wouldn't be giving myself the opportunity to be successful."Later in the 2005 season, Springs also was involved in the "Skins' Santa Shoppe" event on Dec. 13 as the locker rooms at FedExField were transformed into Santa's workshop. Springs and other Redskins distributed gifts to needy children.Quite naturally, the greater Washington, D.C., community is of utmost importance to Springs. He grew up in Silver Spring, Md., and was an all-state performer at Springbrook High.In the past year, Springs moved his foundation, "Springs for Life," from Seattle to the Washington, D.C., area. He continues to be involved in public service TV announcements (with local TV personality Leon Harris) and donates funds to needy inner city youth based on his interceptions and those of his Redskins teammates.In addition, Springs is involved in the fight against diabetes, an illness from which his father, former Dallas Cowboys running back Ron Springs, has suffered.The Man of the Year Award is the only NFL award that recognizes player off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence. One player from each of the league's 32 teams are nominated.Last year's winner, Atlanta's Warrick Dunn, received $25,000 to donate to his selected charity. All other nominees received $1,000 to be donated to their charities. The 2004 nominee for the Redskins was rookie H-Back Chris Cooley.Shawn Springs in coverage. (Don Wright Photo)The 2005 winner will be announced during a press conference on Super Bowl weekend.As a Redskin in 2004, Springs led the team with six sacks and five interceptions. Only three players in NFL history have been the sacks and interceptions leader for their team. Springs joined linebackers Junior Seau of San Diego and Joey Porter of Pittsburgh.In 2005, Springs played at a high level each week, starting 15 games and finishing with 51 tackles in the regular season. His key play came in the Week 12 game versus San Diego. He intercepted Drew Brees late in the fourth quarter of a game the Chargers won 23-17 in overtime.Among Redskins, Darrell Green (1996) and Joe Theismann (1982) are past winners of the NFL's Man of the Year Award, re-named in 1999 to honor Payton, the former Chicago Bears great.Past Winners, NFL Man of the Year Award2004: Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons2003: Will Shields, Kansas City Chiefs2002: Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles2001: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers2000: Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay, and Jim Flanigan, Chicago1999: Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings1998: Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins1997: Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys1996: Darrell Green, Washington Redskins1995: Boomer Esiason, New York Jets1994: Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers1993: Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs1992: John Elway, Denver Broncos1991: Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals1990: Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears1989: Warren Moon, Houston Oilers1988: Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks1987: Dave Duerson, Chicago Bears1986: Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals1985: Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins1984: Marty Lyons, New York Jets1983: Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers1982: Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins1981: Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers1980: Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles1979: Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers1978: Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys1977: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears1976: Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers1975: Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals1974: George Blanda, Oakland Raiders1973: Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs1972: Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs1971: John Hadl, San Diego Chargers1970: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts</div>ARTICLEI hope he gets it, Shawn really does a lot for his team and the community, he deserves it.
Yeah every time I visit my family in Wash. D.C., I flip on the T.V. and Springs is being shown either being interviewed, helping raise money for a foundation, donating money, etc... he's a great guy.
