The NFL and the presidential election
Politics in the middle of an NFL season may not be the first thing on the minds of the players and coaches of the National Football League, but several players actually pay close attention to the race between Barack Obama and John McCain. Less than a week until election day, I thought I’d go ahead and bring up the odd combination of football and politics.
I went digging for a story that somehow connects the upcoming election with football, and I found a story by Joseph White, an AP Sports Writer. A few weeks ago, White wrote a story detailing the stands of players across the NFL .
Redskins veteran Philip Daniels explained how he was on the fence regarding who to vote for. He first explained that both democrats and republicans would help him out. In the end, he came up with this:
"I used to be a Republican," Daniels said. "I wanted Bush in there. The previous years I’ve been Republican because of what we make, but this year’s a little bit different. I think this year more guys are not even thinking about the income part of it. They’re just really thinking about the economy and the country. A lot of people want change."
In New Orleans, the Saints seem to put quite a bit of time aside to talk politics.
"We spend an hour a day talking about this exact subject — in meetings, on the plane, in the locker room," New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said. "I think it’s just because there’s a new interest in politics this campaign season, more than there’s ever been as long as I’ve been following it."
Redskins player Ethan Albright explained that he supports McCain because he won’t be raising taxes. Jeff Feagles, one of the best in the business when it comes to punting, agreed with Albright and expressed his concern with Obama.
"He is going to tax the wealthy, which is what we are," said Feagles. "We are in that category. You look at those kinds of implications, and I hate using that word, it will affect us."
Finally, Giants’ defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka expressed his opinion.
"It’s insulting to think you would vote based on how it affects you financially," Kiwanuka said. "I had that conversation even before I got my signing bonus. It’s a matter of general policy and what you believe in and what that person stands for. … When you look at it, I spent the majority of my life with an average upbringing to say the least, and that has shaped how I vote a lot more than the last couple of years living this lifestyle."
With the shadow of election day growing every second, the candidates are scrambing to add the final pieces to the puzzle. I am voting for John McCain. I think McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, is very smart and knows what she is doing. Several Obama supporters enjoy criticizing Palin by trying to say that she lacks experience. Just a news flash toward Obama supporters: Obama is only a junior senator. How could you criticize Palin when Obama is a rookie? In the end, John McCain has much more experience than Obama.
I’m with old man Jeff Feagles on this one!
Mets pick up Delgado’s 09 option
As expected, the Mets picked up first baseman Carlos Delgado’s option today. Under these circumstances, Delgado would be paid $12 million this year, but that all depends on whether the Mets decide to trade him or not. We’ll see.
I say keep him. Delgado proved in the post-Willie Randolph part of the 2008 season that he still has something left in his tank.
Game of the Week: Giants (5-1) vs. Steelers (5-1)
Several newspapers, online sports websites, and magazines are calling this week’s Giants/Steelers matchup a Super Bowl preview. Two of the top teams in the NFL will face each other at Heinz Field today at 4:15 pm.
The Giants are coming off a win against San Francisco, while Pittsburgh is coming off a 28-point win over the cellar-dwelling Bengals. The Steelers have already had their share of troubles against NFC East teams this season, losing to Philadelphia 15-6. Not only are they facing the best team in the NFC in the Giants, but they have injuries that could cost them the game.
Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh’s go-to wide receiver, and Willie Parker, their starting running back, are both out in this one. We’ll see how well Melwelde Moore does stepping up in place of Parker.
As for Big Blue, Antonio Pierce doesn’t care how crippled he may be, he’ll play in a wheelchair if needed. Last week, he woke up Sunday morning ready to play the game, but the team doctors held him back to prevent any further injury. This week, he is on the injury report but is likely to play. Of course, when asked, he said that he WILL be on the field today against Pittsburgh.
Plaxico Burress had some problems last week in the game against San Francisco. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, then had some disrepectful words to say to head coach Tom Coughlin. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t want to mess with Coughlin. Burress also missed a practice this week, but it was likely just for precautionary reasons to make sure he would be ready to play today.
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was asked if the mud on the field would be an issue, since a college game was played on it last night in the rain. He said it won’t be a problem for him, but it might be for Pittsburgh! Uh-oh. I wouldn’t want to be on the Pittsburgh defense. Brandon just might eat them up and swallow them whole.
Don’t get out of your chair during this one!
It’s the Giants and Steelers at 4:15 on FOX!
****UPDATE at 2:02 pm****
According to FoxSports and other sources, WR Plaxico Burress will not start and may not play at all. He missed several treatments for his injury this week and the Giants are thinking about suspending him yet again .
Giants improve to 5-1 with win over 49ers
An Antonio Pierce-less Giants squad took care of the 49ers, beating them 29-17 at Giants Stadium for the second season in a row. The team’s fourth win at home this season improved them to 5-1.
Michael Johnson led the defense with two interceptions off 49ers quarterback JT O’Sullivan. Not only was JT having a difficult day throwing the ball, he couldn’t hold onto it either. Justin Tuck slapped the ball out of his hands to cause a 49ers safety. The defense, which turned in a much better performance than the nation saw on Monday Night Football against the Browns, held the 49ers to only two third down conversions in the game and 35 total rushing yards.
Eli Manning and the Giants offense had a great day. Brandon Jacobs had a pair of touchdowns, and thanks to the great offensive line, he went in virtually untouched on his 26-yard score. Manning, who had no interceptions for the fourth time this season, found Plaxico Burress in the endzone for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Next week the Giants will hit the road and face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won 38-10 today to improve to 5-1. This matchup of the two 5-1 teams will be fun to watch.
It is about Tynes he is ready
According to NJ.com, Lawrence Tynes is set to return for the Giants this week against San Francisco. Tynes, who was fine in training camp until an injury has held him out of games for the entire season so far, has not been missed. He has said several times throughout the course of the season that he has been ready to return, but never has. His fill-in, veteran John Carney, has been magnificent. Not only with his kicks that are almost guaranteed to soar through the uprights, but his kickoffs have been spectacular, too. That is something Tynes doesn’t even do that well. 
The problem here is that rumors are swirling around Giants Stadium that indicate John Carney has played his final game with Big Blue. The Giants are expected to release the reliable fill-in, but I think that is the wrong decision. You may think I’m crazy for wanting two kickers at a time, but it is actually almost needed right now. You don’t know how well Tynes will be with this much time off. Will he be able to shake off the rust? I’m not sure, and if he doesn’t the Giants are stuck with him when they could have simply kept Carney as a fall-back option.
What do you think?