Finneran named 2009 Man of the Year

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons named wide receiver Brian Finneran the team’s nominee for the 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Finneran, a 10-year NFL veteran, currently has eight catches this season for 72 yards and has competed in eight of nine contests. After suffering knee injuries in 2006 and ’07, a determined Finneran returned to the gridiron last season and competed in all 16 regular season contests.

Finneran is very active in the community, participating in a wide variety of events ranging from children’s hospital visits to serving as a spokesperson for breast cancer awareness. In 2009, he made monetary donations to several organizations and schools including, Rainbow Omega (a non-profit organization located in Alabama that serves mentally, physically and disabled adults), Breast Friends Inc. and the Notre Dame Academy. In addition, Finneran purchased 40 season tickets for the local military and the Eagle Ranch Children’s home located in Flowery Branch as part of the Atlanta Falcons Extra Yard Partnership Program.

Finneran’s leadership and commitment to philanthropy serves him well as a board member for Breast Friends Inc. This past year, he hosted the Breast Friends Inc. Annual Golf Tournament at Hamilton Mill Golf & Country Club. Finneran and several teammates competed in the tournament and also contributed a significant amount of money to support breast cancer awareness. He continues to regularly attend and support other fundraisers hosted by Breast Friends Inc.

Over the past two seasons, Finneran has shown much appreciation and gratitude for those serving in the Armed Forces. He was among several players that traveled in Blackhawk helicopters provided by the Georgia Army National Guard to visit soldiers at Fort Benning, GA. He also participated in "Pros vs. Joes,” where he played video games via the internet against soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan while interacting with their families.

Since 1970, the NFL has awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to recognize a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence. Each club is responsible for selecting their own nominee while the 2009 national Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner will be selected by a blue ribbon panel and recognized on field before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida.