PrintCalifornians with ties to various NFL franchises have donated more than $102,000 to federal political committees this election season, according to a review released yesterday by the Center for Responsive Politics.
What better way to kick off a new NFL season, right?
Tops on the list is the politically active Spanos family – owners of the San Diego Chargers – who doled out $65,600, mostly to Republican causes. Family patriarch Alex Spanos, a close friend of gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, also gave $20,000 to the Democrat earlier this year.
Former USC quarterback Rodney Peete, who was best known in the NFL for losing his starting quarterback job in Carolina to Jake Delhomme, chipped in $32,150 to the Democrats.
San Francisco 49ers consultant Harry Edwards and former St. Louis Rams President John Shaw also made small contributions.
Most of the donors tracked by the Center are owners and executives, but a few high-profile players also showed up on the list.
Apparently sitting around all offseason and mulling retirement gave Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre extra time to think about politics. He and his wife, Deanna, gave $4,800 to Rep. Gene Taylor, an incumbent Mississippi Democrat.
In case there was any confusion, 49ers fans, we're talking about this Brett Favre.
As the study notes, other notable players making contributions include:
- Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, $15,200
- Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Gibril Wilson, $15,000
- New York Jets defensive end Jason Taylor, $14,800
- New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, $4,800
- Ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mark Clayton, $4,000
- Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Chinedum Ndukwe, $3,400
- Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, $2,400
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