"Throughout his first five seasons with the Dolphins, Ronnie Brown had been searching for an off-field charitable pursuit that would fulfill his need to make an impact in the South Florida community.

With his "23 Ways to Stop Youth Violence," Brown found not just that vehicle but the sort of lasting outlet that led to his being named Wednesday as the Dolphins' nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

"This guy certainly deserves this," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "He's probably one of the classiest, highest-character individuals I've ever been associated with."

Brown also donates 100 tickets to each Dolphins home games for underpriveleged youth and recently sponsored a shopping spree for 100 area kids around the Thanksgiving holiday. But it has been the dozens of appearances he's made at local high schools and middle schools since starting the Ronnie Brown Project during the offseason that have opened his eyes to the possibilities.

"It was a big help for me to be able to get involved," said Brown, who leads the Dolphins in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. "It was something I felt comfortable with enough to be able to get out and put myself in the light of the community. I felt it was my duty.""