HONOLULU -- Troy Vincent hadn't quite gotten over the disappointment.

The NFC title game resulted in a painfully familiar ending -- his Philadelphia Eagles denied a trip to the Super Bowl for the second straight year with a loss in the conference championship. For the Eagles and rabid supporters of the franchise, the defeat ended Philadelphia's season-long pursuit of reaching its first Super Bowl since 1981.

	Paul Tagliabue presents Troy Vincent the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy.

"We just didn't get it done," Vincent said a week after the team's 27-10 home loss to Tampa Bay.

However, there'll be no offseason of fretting over what could have been for Vincent. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback has too many other responsibilities to spend his offseason thinking solely about the gridiron.

"I understand that someone is going to win or lose every game," said Vincent, 31. "But when you win, you can't get too high. And when you lose, you can't get too low.

"When the season's over, it's over."

And for many people in Vincent's life, that's when the game truly begins.

Vincent's dedication and determination have helped him become an accomplished football player. However, those same qualities along with his commitment to family, business acumen, involvement in community outreach programs and spirituality make him a leader far beyond the field.

"He's a wonderful role model, a great father to his kids, a guy that's determined, and when he sets goals, he goes after attaining those goals," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "When you see a guy like that, you want to emulate him."

Vincent didn't just wake up one day during his NFL career and decide to be well-rounded and grounded. Whether it was eventually forming his own construction company years after working at his uncle's during his youth or following his grandparents' lead in providing time and money for charities, Vincent has always had the desire to develop more than just the athletic ability he possesses.

"He was always intrigued by getting into whatever he was involved in," said Tommi Vincent, Troy's wife and love interest since their days as teens. "For instance, the sports agent field. It seemed like other friends that we had who were involved in sports were always letting other people handle things for them, but Troy wanted to know everything that was happening."

Which might explain why Vincent eventually hired his best friend's parents as his agents -- people he was convinced were truly looking out for his best interests.

"I credit most of my success off the field to the people I surround myself with," said the Trenton, N.J. native and father of three. "I'm only as strong as the people at the table with me. I'm just one part of the team."

He's not just one part of the team -- he's the quarterback.

Vincent, in part because of all the role models in his life, understood that if fortunate enough to participate in professional athletics, his career would have a relatively short life span. When he got to the NFL -- drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1992 following his All-America days at Wisconsin -- he realized that big salaries and contracts didn't necessarily translate to life-long wealth.

An avid dog lover, Vincent decided to form a dog kennel business in Florida. Then Tommi, who majored in biochemistry at Temple, became interested in pursuing another interest.

"I went to a lot of different spas … and I didn't think they were geared toward people of color in terms of pricing," said Tommi, who with her husband's backing opened Essence Hair, Nail and Body Spa in New Jersey. "I wanted us to have the same type of things they had in the suburbs, but catered to us."

In between the business ventures and family life, Vincent was and remains busy with charity work.

"Anytime charity work needs to be done, Troy's the first to jump up and do it," said Andy Reid, Vincent's head coach since 1999.

In 1992, he established the Troy Vincent Scholarship Fund to provide much needed assistance for seniors from his hometown of Trenton and his high school in Pennsbury, Pa. He's also established a foundation benefiting women's athletics in the Philadelphia and Trenton areas; participates in a number of business and Christian organizations; and distributes gift certificates to needy families on Thanksgiving Day among other things.

Days after the defeat to Tampa Bay, Vincent was named this year's Walter Payton Award recipient as the NFL's Man of the Year.

"The things I do in the community, I don't do to receive awards. I don't fill out an application to compete with my peers to see who's doing the most off the field," said Vincent, routinely honored in the Philadelphia area for his charity work. "It's dear to my heart, something I like to do and part of my lifestyle."

However, it's not enough that Vincent works to better himself and the lives of people away from the gridiron. He has also become deeply concerned with the futures of his NFL brethren, some of which struggle financially and emotionally after their playing days and die broke and lonely.

"First of all, there aren't many role models as far as the athletes becoming successful businessmen," Vincent said. "It's one thing to be a success on the field, to be great, to be an all star. But it's totally different to do it off the field when it takes time, patience and your mind. You're not using physical abilities to make plays."

	“	First of all, there aren't many role models as far as the athletes becoming successful businessmen. It's one thing to be a success on the field, to be great, to be an all star. But it's totally different to do it off the field when it takes time, patience and your mind. You're not using physical abilities to make plays. ”
		— Troy Vincent, Eagles cornerback

Vincent decided to get more involved with the NFL Players Association to help develop dialogue and programs that would help players succeed off the field following their playing careers.

"It's work in progress and we do it together," said Vincent, who admires the success Magic Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson and John Elway have experienced following their playing careers. "The NFL and the NFL Players Association, we're in constant discussion on career transition and what we can do to decrease the number of casualties for athletes who are leaving the game.

"They may have income, they may have money, but life is so much larger than having a wallet full of money. And after a while, it runs out."

Three years ago, Vincent launched Eltekon Holdings LLC, a multifaceted business and financial services company, formed with teammate and fellow cornerback Bobby Taylor; Dolphins wide receiver and a previous NFL Man of the Year, Cris Carter; Bears linebacker Mike Caldwell; and businessman Mark Mangum. And despite the football players' involvement, Eltekon is not catered strictly toward the long-term betterment of athletes.

None of the brochures providing information on the company's business, financial and investment strategies features the names or faces of its celebrity founders.

"Everyone wants to serve the Bobby Taylors of the world, the Troy Vincents because we make the so-called high dollar, great salary," said Vincent, who just completed his seventh season with the Eagles. "What about our kin folk, what about our relatives?

"It was important for us to take the resources, those people, the relationships we had and form a company that we could actually impact the community and bring those services that people offer to us, package them and offer them to everyday people -- reporters, school teachers, law enforcement officers, state workers."

Vincent, a religious man who oftentimes has the delivery of a preacher and motivational speaker, provides the same type of direction for his teammates.

"Anytime a guy gets hurt and he has a question about free agency or grievances, he's the first guy that guys go talk to," Taylor said. "Sometimes we kind of tease him because he's almost politicking, but he wants the best for anyone."

James C. Black is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com.