Payton family to sign books at Bears Fan Convention

Connie, Jarrett and Brittney Payton will attend the Bears Fan Convention this weekend at the Hilton Chicago to sign copies of "Payton," the book they co-authored. The inspirational and emotional book features amazing photos, insightful stories and heart-warming recollections about legendary Bears running back Walter Payton, who died of bile duct cancer on Nov. 1, 1999 at the age of 45. Connie Payton and her children Brittney and Jarrett have co-authored an inspirational and emotional book entitled 'Payton.' "With this book we hoped to bring a personal insight into not just the professional life of running back Walter Payton, but his life as a husband, father and friend," Connie writes. "Today the legacy he left behind still flourishes and, prayerfully, will forever." With "Never Die Easy" and other Payton books already on the market, Connie was reluctant to work on the project. But Jarrett and Brittney convinced their mother to participate. "They really wanted to share some of their feelings in the book," Connie said. "I didn't necessarily want to do it. But the kids were really interested in it and I guess that's the only reason I went along with." For that reason, Connie's favorite chapters are the ones that were written by her children. "They talk about things they really hadn't even shared with me," she said, "like how they were feeling growing up with their dad, when he got sick and when he passed. "Their chapters were very special to me because it allowed us to sit down and just talk about some things and even cry together about some things." Payton joined the Bears as the fourth overall pick in the 1975 draft and proceeded to set 16 NFL records and 28 team marks. "Sweetness" retired in 1987 as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards, a record that wasn't eclipsed until 2002 by Emmitt Smith. Payton also held NFL marks that have since been broken for the most yards in a game (275) and the most 100-yard games in his career (77). He was voted to nine Pro Bowls, had his No. 34 jersey retired by the Bears and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. But what makes this book unique are the touching memories of a wife, son and daughter. Not able to afford what she describes as "a big fancy wedding," Connie writes about how Walter surprised her on their 10th anniversary by arranging a "beautiful and proper wedding." Jarrett, a running back with the Tennessee Titans, continues to be inspired by his father. "My dad's legacy isn't all that complicated," Jarrett writes. "Be the very best you can be and the rest will follow. Don't focus on what you can't control, but only on what you can. Just do your best by giving everything you've got and leaving it all on the field." Payton's great sense of humor is a common theme throughout the book. "I tackled him one time," says former Dallas Cowboys safety Bill Bates, "got up and as I turned around, he pinched my butt. I turned around and he just giggled." "When I dropped a pass against the Colts," former Bears fullback Matt Suhey says, "on the way back to the huddle he said to me, 'You can always get a paper route or join the Army.'"