Buffalo Bills: Lorenzo Alexander and the most important award of all

The Buffalo Bills are a team that stresses culture, and one player in particular goes above and beyond to be a great individual off the field.

This has not been the greatest season for the Buffalo Bills.

The team is 4-8 and fans have witnessed some truly awful games, although there have been bright spots as well.

While the ups and downs have been taking place, players on the Bills have continued to give their time to community service. This comes during weeks when there are games, but the players put a smile on and help out in the community.

Lorenzo Alexander is one player in particular who stands out for his service, as he has been nominated as the team’s representative for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The award takes performance both on and off the field into account, but the work off the field is what sets Alexander apart the most.

A bit more explanation of his work via the award website:

"Alexander has been an Ambassador for the American Diabetes Association for almost a decade, often visits youth church groups for motivational lectures, supports the Beta Omega Social Services Scholarship, and the Super Baskets of Hope program. He has supported each of the community relations departments that he has played for and has always made a point of encouraging his teammates to do the same. Through his ACES Foundation, he’s invested time and resources where need is most heavily felt and implemented collaborative programs to help at-risk youth realize their value and potential."

This is just a small sample of Alexander’s work, as the veteran has embraced Buffalo and made it a point to be involved in the community throughout the year. And all of this has been accomplished in only a few years in town.

It is easy for fans to get frustrated with players for not winning. That is all part of being a fan. But we also must remember that many of the players are out in the community doing great things that are much bigger than football.

Alexander is one of those people and he is nominated alongside some truly great individuals from around the NFL.