During that particular Tuesday, Dawkins was in the middle of a somewhat chaotic, high-energy environment on Buffalo’s East Side where Elizabeth Triggs, as she does every year, organized a Thanksgiving meal donation center. With police officers distributing turkey dinners throughout the East Side and offering passers-by a plate, Dawkins contributed nearly 2,000 meals There’s no one like you/we care.
“The nice thing about it is that people get food, and that’s what we’re all here for, just to help people get a meal and give their best for the day,” Dawkins said. “I’m glad I’m in the position I’m in to be able to help the people I can help.”
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is one of the league’s most prestigious honors and honors a player for excellence on and off the field. The award winner will receive a donation of $250,000 to the charity of their choice, and all 31 other nominees will receive up to $40,000 for the same purpose.
As a teammate, Dawkins is thought to be one of the best players. Defensive end Greg Russo, who often lines up against Dawkins in practice, spoke during training camp about the importance of being around Dawkins on and off the field.
“To go against a guy like him who is in the Pro Bowl year after year is definitely a big challenge,” Russo said. “He’s also a great teammate, a great person. So, he’s not always going to try to better himself, he’s also going to try to make the person across from him better as well.”
