Larry Fitzgerald is Cardinals Man of the Year

The Arizona Cardinals have named Larry Fitzgerald its "Arizona Cardinals/Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" thus making Fitzgerald the representative from the Cardinals for the league-wide "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" award.

Fitzgerald has provided the Cardinals with plenty of reasons to bestow this honor upon him. His First Down Fund helps supply positive activities for kids during the summer and the rest of the year in Arizona, Minneapolis and Chicago. He is also a fixture at numerous non-profit organizations across the country.

In honor of his late mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2003, the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund helps educate youth about breast cancer as well as other diseases such as HIV/AIDS. During breast cancer awareness month, Fitzgerald is one of the most visible athletes in any sport supporting the cause. He even got Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love to shave his head in an act of support and it can be seen here.

Fitzgerald's contributions off the field are endless and him being named the representative for this award by the Cardinals is something expected due to all that he does. The finalists for the award receive $5,000 for a charity of their choosing and the winner will receive a $25,000 donation.