Ex-NFL players eye convention 'splash'

A team of former NFL players hopes to score points for the Democratic convention.

The Charlotte NFL Players Chapter is talking to convention officials about ways they can help.

"We are trying to make a big splash with the DNC and put Charlotte on the map," said Mike Dulaney, who played for the Panthers and the Chicago Bears. Exactly how the players would help is still unclear. But Dulaney said they could get involved in events surrounding the Super Bowl or NFL draft. He said there are more than 50 retired players in the this area and hundreds in the Carolinas.

"We are thrilled that local members of the NFL Retired Players Association would like to partner with us," said Dan Murrey, executive director of the host committee.

Convention aside, the NFL tends to be friendlier to Republicans.

Players, owners and executives, along with their spouses, gave at least $1.4 million to federal candidates and political committees in the last two years, the Center for Responsive Politics reported this month. Two-thirds of the money went to Republicans.

–Jim Morrill