WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, has grown weary of watching the New England Patriots rack up Super Bowl wins while his team watches from afar.
Operating on the theory that misery loves company, he tried Thursday to sell a fellow Patriot antagonist on a plan he’s cooked up to sideline New England’s star quarterback, Tom Brady.
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, selected by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to the United Kingdom, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing. Rubio’s a member of the panel. And before he quizzed Johnson on issues like counterterrorism and Brexit, the senator got the other important business out of the way.
First, because the Jets and Dolphins are rivals – both are in the NFL’s AFC East division along with the Patriots – Rubio cleared a few things off his chest.
“Support for your nomination due to you relationship with the New York Jets is painful and difficult, but I’m willing to do it for the good of the country,” he told Johnson as laughter filled the crowded committee room.