Joe Thomas named Browns 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year

Real big men give back. Joe Thomas has been named the Cleveland Browns' 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year. This is the second time the offensive lineman has won the award, previously being named Man of the Year in 2010. Thomas and his wife have become involved in a plethora of charities in the Cleveland area since he was a first-round draft pick in 2007.

Thomas has been associated with The Cleveland Foodbank and made a large contribution to the local "Kids in Need Resource Center." He is also heavily involved with the USO, even traveling to Afghanistan to visit with troops.

Each team selects its winner, and the NFL selects three finalists and ultimately a winner of the NFL's version of the award. The winner from each team gets $25,000 to allocate to the charity of their choice, with Thomas selecting Team Rubicon USA, the foundation of a former college teammate.