CHICAGO — Brittney Payton shed tears.

Jarrett Payton beamed with pride.
And Connie Payton-Strotter said “it all had a special meaning today” when the Bears honored the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, who died 10 years ago Sunday.
A special video tribute was shown to the fans in attendance at Soldier Field after the Paytons, including Walter’s mother, Alyne, and Jarrett’s wife, Trisha, were escorted to the field by former Payton teammates Matt Suhey and Dennis Gentry.
“After he is gone, to me this is when I realize what a true legend he was and how much people did really love him,” said Brittney, Walter and Connie’s daughter. “It’s a sad day, but it’s an awesome day to know that we’re here with everyone around him who loved him. And they want to celebrate just as much as we do.”
Connie said she tried her best to control her emotions.
“I was trying to hold up,” she said. “A lot has happened to this family in 10 years. You kind of focus on each day and time. I wondered how emotional I would be, and once I turned to this one (Brittney) ... it’s just so hard to believe.”
Jarrett, who presented his father for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recalled how devoted his father was.
“He wasn’t just the greatest football player who ever played, he was the greatest man I ever met,” he said. “I was just lucky to have my hero, my role model, the person I want to model myself after . . . in my house every single day. The person who was disciplining me when I was in trouble and the person I would hang out with and go play video games with until the arcade closed.
“He was truly the renaissance man. He was everything. He was everything to us, but he was everything to the people in the stands who watched him for those 13 years. So it is only fitting that we share this day with the fans.”
Overheard: Bears coach Lovie Smith showed his team the video tribute to Payton before Sunday’s 30-6 victory and said: “That’s how you play football.”
The message was not lost on defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.
“To know that I played for the same team as Walter Payton and Dick Butkus and guys like that, it’s special ... means a lot to me and I try to show how much on Sundays,” said Ogunleye, who was credited with a fumble recovery against the Browns. ...
Gentry said he couldn’t believe 10 years have passed since Payton’s death.
“When I got the call to be here on the 10th year anniversary of his passing, I was just very proud,” he said. “Walter and I were close friends, you know. And Connie and my wife were best friends. When Connie and Kelly (Woods) called, I said I would be there, no ifs, ands or buts. I was listening to Connie talking about Walter doing those pranks ... he’s still doing those pranks wherever he is.”
Word on the street: Jarrett addressed the future of the much-discussed Walter Payton statue in Chicago.
“Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can have some more information,” he said. “But it’s going to be somewhere and it is going to be special for everybody.”
Sights seen: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler sauntered over to the Browns’ sideline and appeared to have words with Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the Bears were stopped on the 1-yard line on fourth down in the second half.
“He just said: ’Good job,’ I think,” Ryan said afterward.
Cutler also played down the confrontation.
The last word: “I can’t believe all of this fuss is about me.”
Connie Payton-Strotter, imagining what Walter Payton would say about Sunday’s tribute.