The message 10 days ago was one of hope, as Walter Payton's wife and daughter accepted an award celebrating the legend's life.The tears trickling down their cheeks told the true story. The beloved football hero had taken a turn for the worse.
Connie Payton and her daughter Brittney managed a strong front for the ARETE Courage in Sports awards dinner Oct. 22 at Navy Pier - just like the man in their lives wanted.
Connie sounded optimistic, referring to a liver transplant as a cure, even though she must have known the cancer coursing through Payton's system spoiled that chance.
"He might not be as physical as he's always been, but he still has a heart," Connie Payton said.
Five days later, she called her son, Jarrett, home from the University of Miami to be by his father's side.
Loved ones kept him company. Mike Singletary. Matt Suhey. Bears Chairman Emeritus Ed McCaskey visited Friday. Close friend Kevin Kelly, who coached Jarrett in football at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, sat with Payton much of the last four days.
Payton's brother Eddie was with him the entire last weekend.
"On Saturday, we must have watched five football games together," Eddie Payton said. "He knew what was happening. He knew the possibilities. We talked about all the possibilities. He was at peace."
Payton knew rumors of his failing health were spreading, business partner Mark Alberts said. Legions of fans waited for word, hoped for a miracle. They wanted to believe what Payton's office kept insisting last week, that the superstar was holding his own.
Just a week ago, Payton asked his former teammate Suhey for a ride through the suburbs. He sent Suhey to different houses, telling him, "Singletary lives there." Suhey would knock on the door and a stranger would answer.
"Does Mike Singletary live here?" Suhey asked, as Payton broke into laughter in the car.
After two or three times, Suhey warned Payton, "Tell me where he lives or I'm gonna take you home."
"Walter had Matt go get me a burger and malt and it's somewhere in my garage," Singletary said. "There's a smell there now."
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Though physically he was failing, mentally he remained strong. Payton focused his waning energy on family, on God. Singletary, one who knew him best, read scripture with Payton.
"I think outside of anything else - I've seen the run, the greatest moves - what I experienced this weekend was by far the best of Walter Payton that I had seen," Singletary said, hours after Payton's death Monday.
Courage masked the pain, even to his inner circle friends. Former teammate Leslie Frazier, now an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, visited Payton just two weeks ago.
Frazier said he couldn't help noticing that Payton's upper body - just a wisp of the superstar athlete etched in record books - still looked toned.
"He was in good spirits," Frazier said. "When people came by, he would sit on the side of the bed, laughing."
Payton avoided talking about his health.
The day Frazier visited, with Singletary, Payton was disappointed because his son Jarrett's football game had been canceled due to inclement weather.
"We talked about football, we talked about Jarrett," Singletary recalled. "It was obvious that he was tired, so Les and I carried on the conversation."
Doctors say the type of liver disease Payton suffered from does not cause much discomfort. But it sapped his strength. He was confined to bed this final week, fading in and out of consciousness. Smiling when awake.
"There was no tense look in his face - just peace," Singletary said. "He made peace with the savior. Because of that, I don't have to stand here and cry. He is definitely in a better place.
"There is no doubt in my mind."
Daily Herald staff writers Bob LeGere, Ruth Silverman and Barry Rozner contributed to this report.
