NFL’S UNDERWOOD: BELICHICK
After his breakout role alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button, Mahershala Ali appeared in The Place Beyond
the Pines and currently plays lobbyist-turned-White House Chief of Staff Remy Danton on Netflix’s hit series House of Cards. You can catch him in theaters now in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay —
Part 2. We sat down with the Oakland Raiders fan to discuss New York teams and touchdown showboating.
Q: You’re on House of Cards; who is the Frank Underwood of the NFL?
A: Bill Belichick. He’s gotten a bad rap, though I do think he’s a great coach. I think people have been shown that the Patriots will push the boundaries and look for the loopholes — you know, tape a practice here or there accidentally to get an advantage. I have a lot of respect for the Patriots; they have been extraordinary for 12 years or something crazy like that and probably should have beat the Giants in that Super Bowl.
Q: Which NFL player would excel in the Hunger Games?
A: Because it’s a mix of athleticism and intelligence, I think Russell Wilson would be great. He’s a smart dude, and he’s athletic, even more athletic than he’s been given credit for.
Q: You’re a fan of Cam New- ton; what is your stance on flashy end-zone dances?
A: I’m not mad at Cam right now. He’s doing a great job. But I also appreciate the Barry Sanderses of the world who just score a touchdown, put the ball down and are thankful to their teammates. But it has its place; just depends on the person and the personality. Sometimes they go a little bit too far.
Q: You currently live in NYC; which New York NFL team do you root for?
A: I’m more of a Jets guy. I’ve just never been able to root for the Giants, ever. The Jets have been a little bit of the stepbrother or little brother, so I find myself rooting for the Jets because they feel like the underdog. So I want to see them do well.