Eric Wood Nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood (70) against the Dallas Cowboys at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo beats Dallas 16 to 6. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Wood has done everything a team could expect from a first-round draft pick, both on and off the field.
There’s nothing bad you can say about Buffalo Bills‘ center Eric Wood. He’s not only a great leader on the field, but does endless charity work and volunteering around his community. I wouldn’t want anyone else leading this offensive line.
That’s why the Buffalo Bills‘ players and coaches nominated Wood for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award — not that other people didn’t deserve it, but he just deserved it more.
Eric Wood sent out a thank-you tweet:
The Walter Payton Man of the Year award — presented by Nationwide — recognizes “one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community,” according to the official website. It is Eric Wood‘s second consecutive year as the Buffalo Bills’ nominee for this award.
In Wood’s playing career, he has been as reliable as they come. Up until his injury this season vs. the Seattle Seahawks, Wood had started in all 104 games that he was featured in. Ever since the Bills drafted him in the first round of the 2009 draft, he has been the starter for this team and we have never looked back.
As a center, Eric Wood is responsible for leading his offensive line every week and making sure both the running backs and quarterback are well protected throughout the game. In 2015, Wood did a solid job of that as he helped pave the way for an impressive rushing season for Buffalo — which included leading the league in total rushing yards and yards per carry, as well as having three different players rush for over 500 yards each.
To add to that success, he helped the Bills do the same thing this season — before suffering a broken leg in Week 9. Although his season is over, Bills’ fans can’t wait to have him back next season. He was easily the biggest blow this team had this season and we’ve had a lot of them.
When Eric Wood isn’t in uniform, he’s giving back to his community. One thing that defines a true member of the Buffalo Bills is someone who is close to their community. I mean, look at Jim Kelly — perfection. Eric Wood has that same mentality.
In the past few years, Wood has helped grow his own foundation — the Eric Wood Foundation — into a very respected name. Since it was created, they have raised over $400,000 to help “seriously ill, special needs, and physically challenged children throughout the Greater Buffalo region with daily encouragement and life-changing experiences.” The inspiration for the foundation came from the death of Eric Wood‘s brother, Evan, who died at 11 years old from severe cerebral palsy.
The Buffalo Bills added on their website:
And that’s just the stuff that is documented.
Point is, Eric Wood is the man in Buffalo and I know every Bills’ fan is glad no other team gets to call him theirs.
As described by the NFL website, winners will receive:
In addition, Nationwide is upping the ante:
Congratulations, Eric Wood. 110% deserving of the award and I hope you earn some extra donations for the charity of your choice.
The winner will be announced the night before the Super Bowl — February 4th — during the NFL Honors Show. Richie Incognito will also be up for an award, the USAA Salute to Service Award.
Do you remember any of the past Buffalo Bills‘ nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award? I’ll start with 2014: Fred Jackson
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