LUMBERTON — It was no surprise on Thursday morning that Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers was named the team’s nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

In recent months the son of Eastern North Carolina, who has become the face of the franchise during his 17-year career, has taken time out to help communities across the Carolinas that were hit hardest by Hurricane Florence. Robeson County was one of those areas, and many saw first-hand what the helping hand of Peppers did for this area.

Peppers and 31 other team representatives are vying for this award, but the Panthers all-time sack leader should be a no-brainer for this award, which recognizes excellence on and off the field, based on what he represented in his local visits.

Many in Robeson County and across the border in Marlboro County, the two areas that Peppers visited in the middle of the week during the thick of the NFL season, can agree as though the 38-year-old epitomizes those pillars of success, no matter what their NFL allegiances are. The work on the ground was as an added gesture after the All-Pro defensive end started the Julius Peppers Hurricane Florence relief fund by donating $100,000 after the storm. Like his play on the field during his career, Peppers went above and beyond.

Peppers is not known for being a very vocal person but rather, lets his work and play do the talking. That was not the case when he visited areas in Robeson County on Oct. 8, when the reserve Peppers was very vocal talking to victims to hear their stories. For many that knew Peppers and came to take pictures, shake his hand and get a piece of memorabilia signed, he did not hesitate to take time to provide emotional help as well.

“I’m here to offer help in any way possible and give people hope. People coming out, taking pictures and shaking hands, that helps as well,” Peppers said standing on Nevada Street in Lumberton late in the day, which started before daybreak when he left Charlotte.

His physical efforts on the ground were the same as he showed that he wasn’t above helping out when help was needed, whether at home sites or areas where supplies and food were given out.

The list of what Peppers has done charity wise goes back to when he first entered the league, but he has never been given the award that was established in 1970. Robeson County has vouched that he deserves this award based on the help, awareness and hope that he brought to a community that has suffered the brunt of two hurricanes in less than two years.

If Peppers were to win this award, and be given the choice of which charity the $250,000 should be dispersed, the recently-formed Julius Peppers Hurricane Florence relief fund would be a perfect option, and those funds would go a long way to aid the areas that Peppers saw on his visits that are still in need of a lot of work.

And if the NFL decides to choose one of the other 31 players, Peppers still will be Robeson County’s NFL Man of the Year.

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By Jonathan Bym

Sports editor

Jonathan Bym can be reached at 910-816-1977 or by email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Jonathan_Bym.