Kerney Named Seahawks Man of the Year

by: Mike Parker

This is an interesting bit I came across last night, thanks to Strategerie - Patrick Kerney has been named as the Seahawks 2008 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year candidate, as his contributions to the local community have been as unrelenting as his pass rush.

This year, Kerney played a big role in a campaign against homelessness, in which the Seahawks pledged to raise $110 million. Kerney also founded the Thomas L. Kerney Endowment Fund this year, in memory of his brother.

Kerney also served as the grand marshal at the 2008 Special Olympics in Olympia, in which more than 2,300 participants competed.

The full list of Patrick Kerney's contributions to the local community over the past year really surprised me, as it's not often that fans hear about what players do off the field. (Well, except when they accidentally shoot themselves in the leg or get pulled over for doing 80 in a 45 mph zone because they've OD'd on cocaine and have a blood-alcohol level that would kill a small horse.)

It's too bad Kerney's health couldn't hold up for the rest of the season, but it seems as though his life has been filled with a lot more than just playing football this year.

He's one of 32 finalists for the NFL's Man of the Year award, and the winner will be announced by Roger Goodell in a press conference just prior to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. Congratulations to Patrick Kerney, and here's a link to the full story. -END-