In Denver, Mike Klis writes the Broncos' PAT BOWLEN "for nearly three decades has been an NFL owner of considerable influence." Former NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE yesterday said, "I'm so happy for Pat. He's probably one of the top five owners that I've ever dealt with. ... I'm not going to start picking the other four, but you can put the MARA family (of the New York Giants) in there. The beauty of Pat was when he first came in, he said there's a lot you don't know and you've got to listen. He did that. He very quickly became very influential" (DENVER POST, 1/29).
SUPER LOBBYING: USA TODAY's Schouten & Schnaars cite campaign contribution data as showing that Broncos employees "have given more money to federal politicians" than Seahawks employees. Broncos ownership, employees and their relatives "have contributed at least $84,000 to federal candidates and political parties since Jan. 1, 2011 -- nearly twice what people affiliated" with the Seahawks have donated. Among the Broncos' "top givers" is Exec VP/Football Operations JOHN ELWAY, who "pumped more than $50,000" into MITT ROMNEY's presidential campaign in '12 and "has donated $3,500 over two election cycles" to U.S. Rep. MIKE COFFMAN (R-Colo.). The "biggest giver on the Seahawks' roster" was Owner PAUL ALLEN, "who donated more than $40,000 during the period examined." Allen's contributions "were divided nearly evenly between Republicans and Democrats," ranging from U.S. Rep. DAVID CAMP (R-Mich.) to U.S. Rep. SUZAN DELBENE (D-Wash.), who is a "former Microsoft executive" (USA TODAY, 1/29).
PLAYING POLITICS: N.Y. Mayor BILL DE BLASIO "has scored coveted tickets to the Super Bowl, but he hasn’t decided whether to attend." Sources said that New York Gov. ANDREW CUOMO "hasn’t firmly committed to attending." A source added that former N.Y. Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG "declined tickets because he will be out of town" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/29)....Minnesota Gov. MARK DAYTON "had planned to fly to the New York area this weekend to pitch Minnesota's bid to win the 2018 Super Bowl but on Wednesday his office said he canceled his plans" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/29).
GAME FILM: The movie "DRAFT DAY" was screened yesterday "for about 150 Browns staffers." The film's plot revolves around fictional Browns GM Sonny Weaver Jr. -- played by KEVIN COSTNER -- as he "takes bold steps to try and score the number one pick." Film director IVAN REITMAN "made everything look authentic, down to the Browns offices and the paper-strewn war room." The movie "will not hit theaters until April 11," but the producers "wanted to try and grab some of the pre-Super Bowl buzz" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/29).
SUPER BOWL NAMES: Former Miami Herald Sports Editor EDWIN POPE, "among only a handful of sportswriters in America who have covered every Super Bowl game, will not be attending or covering Super Bowl XLVIII." No reason "was given for Pope breaking his Super Bowl streak" and he declined comment on the matter (MIAMIHERALD.com, 1/28)....ESPN analyst TIM TEBOW on Friday "will cross over" and serve as co-host of ABC's "Good Morning America" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/28)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY and his family are "holed up in a luxe waterfront home at the Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club" in the Bahamas for Super Bowl week (BOSTON HERALD, 1/29).
