Walter Payton's death on Monday had a big impact on ESPN.com users, who e-mailed their memories of Payton. From his tireless work ethic to his humbleness, thousands of fans had a range of memories about Payton the football player and Payton the man. Here are selections of the comments:

	The image of Walter Payton sitting alone after his final game Jan. 10, 1988, had a lasting impact on many of his fans.

I can still see Walter Payton's last game as vividly in my mind as though it were yesterday. Never before or since in my life have I seen anyone having so much fun playing football. Then once it was over, I've never seen someone so reluctant to leave the field. He knew it was over, but he didn't want to go. He just sat there with his head in his hands crying to himself.

Well, I'll tell you this: knowing this is the end of the life of the greatest football player to ever live, and my hero, I did the same. I cried to myself with my head in my hands.

John B. Clark
Pittsburgh

My favorite memories of Walter Payton come from off the football field. While nobody can deny the passion and work ethic he brought onto the field, my lasting memories come from other places.

The picture of Payton after his final game at Soldier Field is an image that will never leave me. Watching him sit by himself on the sidelines holding his head in his hands proved to everyone how much he truly loved the game. It seemed as though he had given every once of himself to the Chicago Bears and to the NFL, and at that moment he was finally finished with his career, you could see how it pained him.

The other memory I have of Walter Payton is from his Hall of Fame induction. After listening to an emotional introduction from his son Jarrett, he rose and told the crowd that he no longer cared about the bet the inductees had about who would cry first. It showed yet again that as great as Payton was as a player, he was far greater as a father, family man, and human being. Never has a nickname been so appropriate as "Sweetness." I will always remember Walter Payton for his unending commitment to excellence on, and more importantly, off the field.

Jim Murphy
Allentown, Pa.

I grew up in Northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago during the 1970s. Walter was the Chicago Bears. On teams that struggled to be mediocre, Walter was an All-Star. He played on horrible teams, but he never complained, and always performed at an incredibly high level. He was a true professional. We will never see another player like Walter Payton. I miss him already! Thanks, Sweetness!

Joe Pieters
Indianapolis

My favorite memory is every time I saw Walter play. Being a Patriots fan, in '85, I wanted the Pats to win the Super Bowl. The only part of the loss that made it right was that Walter got his ring.

John Theriault
Belmont, N.H.

The one thing that I will always remember about Payton was how he never ran out of bounds to keep from being tackled (unless he needed to stop the clock). He would be running down the sidelines, and when a defensive player came up to tackle him, Payton would lower his shoulder, and turn toward the tackler to hit him instead of running out of bounds. It was great!

Michael Lettenmaier
Englewood, Colo.

"My name is Sweetness, and I like to dance, running the ball is like making romance ..." -- The Super Bowl Shuffle. Records aside, Walter Payton was the greatest back to ever play the game. Period.

Mike Young
Phoenix

There are far too many memories to recall. However, the most telling attribute is the fact that every Sunday after the game, when all of the boys from the neighborhood would get together to play football, we would argue about who got to be Walter Payton, not who kicks off.

Bo Kowalczyk
Chicago

We were behind Walter Payton in a local grocery store. This was about 1984, and Payton was in his prime. I was 11 years old, and awestruck. My mother had no clue who was in front of us. However, the entire store did. She proceeded to drop a 2-liter bottle of coke onto the conveyer belt. The coke exploded all over Payton, he thought it was the funniest thing, and wouldn't stop laughing. My mom did not realize who the man in the store was until I later told her. She was very embarrassed. This story represents why Sweetness was one of the classiest people in sports, who will be missed by all.

Andrew Goldblatt
Chicago

I think the most evident example of who and what Sweetness was can be explained with two examples:

1. With all the great players and coaches he played with, the person whom he wanted to introduce him at Canton was his son.
2. I can't remember where I saw it, but I recall in an interview someone asking Walter Payton how it would feel if and when Barry Sanders broke his career rushing record. His reply was that it would be an honor.

Those are two examples of the player and of the man we all came to know and admire simply as "Sweetness".

Luis A. Neves Jr.
New York.

It's not just "a" favorite memory, but my entire childhood. He was the first football player whose name I remember saying at 4 years old. He was the one, in the makeshift football fields, we all tried to be like. His were the records we dreamed of breaking some day. As I think back on all of those times, I realize that not only did one of my childhood heroes die today, but a piece of my childhood died too. God bless you, Walter.

Chad Oliver
Swedesboro, N.J.

The beauty of Walter cannot be captured in a single moment, the beauty of Walter is the way he played the game and lived his life, every game, every day. The hope he instilled in every hopeless situation is something that I hope I can teach to others. Walter will never be forgotten.

Casey Marks
Chicago

From 1977 to 1980 or so, Walter Payton lived in my neighborhood in Arlington Heights, Ill. We always looked forward to Halloween at his house because he always answered the door. We forgot about 'treats' because he would joke with us and ask us about our costumes. He always had as much fun as we did.

You could always find him outside playing basketball with kids in the neighborhood, and he always had some of the other guys on the team over at his house. When you are 11 years old, that's quite a thrill! Chicago lost a great person today, not just a great football player.

Christopher Belford
Chicago

As a boy growing up in Milwaukee in the late '70s and early '80s, I remember my friends and I jumping over snowbanks pretending to be Walter Payton diving into the end zone. It is a fond memory of innocent youth and Payton's greatness.

John Cummings
Milwaukee

My favorite memory of Walter Payton is when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mainly, it was because it was his son who gave a wonderful speech before Walter stepped to the podium. Just seeing how happy Walter was having his son there to enjoy that special day and the big smile he had on his face. It was a moment that I will never forget.

Chris Proffitt
Jacksonville, Ill.

I was 9 years old during the peak of Walter Payton's career, the year the Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl and won it all. That team had some of the greatest characters ever assembled on a championship squad, but there was no greater idol to have for a 9-year-old Chicago boy than Walter.

After every snowfall in my South Side neighborhood, I would run to the park and build a giant wall of snow, just so I could tuck my football under my arm and leap over it, pretending to be Walter flying over the defensive line and landing in the end zone. I wanted to be like him in every way. I will forever cherish those boyhood memories. He is the sole reason why I love the game of football. I miss him already.

Juan Mendez
Chicago

Of all the players who I have watched, he was the gentleman warrior. Never quick to anger, never a bad word against anyone. Yet the warrior spirit that led him to claw for every yard, to fascinate us with every bob, weave, and spin. He will be missed!

Joseph Rapoport
Houston