A Big Man with a Big Heart

New Orleans Saints' offensive lineman Jon Stinchcomb spends his Sunday's blocking for Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and the other Black and Gold ball carriers. Offensive lineman get little to no recognition on Sunday's, but it isn't recognition that keeps Stinchcomb going.

"I love to help people, especially kids," Stinchcomb says, and help them he does. He recently created "OL 4 NO" (Offensive Line for New Orleans), a youth football camp. The free camp was run by the Saints' offensive line during the offseason for New Orleans area kids. The group has also purchased over 200 bicycles as Christmas gifts for underprivileged New Orleans area kids. But, that isn't all that he does, not even close to all.

Stinchcomb can usually be found at Children's Hospital or at a local schools. He speaks to high school kids on the importance of a good education or reads to smaller kids when  he's not concentrating on blocking angles or slamming blocking dummies in practice.

Stinchcomb's efforts haven't gone unnoticed.

He recently received the New Orleans Saints' Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his efforts in making his adopted hometown of New Orleans a better place.

A finalist is chosen from each NFL team and each finalist receives a $1,000 contribution to a charity of his choice, and at the end of the NFL season, an overall winner will be selected. He will receive a $25,000 contribution to a charity of his choice.

If Stinchcomb wins the overall award, he already knows where the money is headed. The Stinchcomb Family Foundation was established by Jon and his brother Matt Stinchcomb, who also was an NFL offensive lineman (from 1999-2006) and that foundation already has an extra $1,000 with which to help more people with because of the award.

But, Jon doesn't care about the recognition part of the award. All that he wants to do is help people, especially kids.

Joshua Joffrion writes for Saints Scoop, a blog dedicated to the New Orleans Saints at http://www.saintsscoop.com .