24
Jan
2011
Charles Woodson and the Packers are coming to see President Obama (VIDEO)
BJ Raji does the getdown after scoring on an interception return in the NFC Championship (Photo: JSOnline.com)
Lost in all the back and forth over whether Jay Cutler is or is not a wuss seems to be the fact that the Green Bay Packers soundly defeated their third consecutive road playoff opponent, and are headed to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV. As the number six seed in the NFC, the Packers have gone into hostile territory and beaten the Eagles, Falcons and Bears in consecutive weeks, and done so in impressive fashion. Quite simply, Mike McCarthy’s team is playing the best football in the league right now … and with or without Cutler, the Packers were going to win that game.
While Aaron Rodgers may get all the (well-deserved) love from the media, perhaps the biggest factor in the Packers’ success has been the play of their defense. Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers’ group allowed only 15 points per game in the regular season, and have been able to recover from some key injuries along with way. Led by shutdown corner Charles Woodson, agile big man BJ Raji and All-Pro LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay has effectively contained some of the game’s most dangerous offenses this post-season. So if you’re a believer that defense wins championships (and I am), take note that the Packers D is dominating games and peaking at the right time.
After the victory, Woodson addressed his teammates and took the opportunity to address President Obama, who had said he would attend the Super Bowl if his hometown Chicago Bears won on Sunday. To which Woodson replied that the Packers will instead come to see Obama … when they visit the White House as Super Bowl champions:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
19
May
2009
James Harrison is afraid of flying, white mansions
James Harrison saves a lucky Browns fan from flying away
First Kornheiser, and now this.
Steelers LB James Harrison took a lot of heat for electing not to join his teammates when they visit the White House on Thursday to meet with President Barack Obama.
But the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that it isn’t politics or any devious motives that will keep Harrison from attending. Rather, it is his paralyzing fear of flying.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of truth to that,” confirmed Bill Parise, Harrison’s agent. “When James was in college, his mother had to drive him to all the away games. That’s the absolute truth. The transition for him into the NFL was real difficult at first.
“He can get on airplanes and fly, obviously, but he doesn’t like to.”
Harrison also chose not to visit the White House three years ago after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, and doesn’t understand why it’s a big deal this time around. But then again, three years ago he wasn’t the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
