Jersey Fans Cheering On Local Green Bay Packer Raji
WESTWOOD, N.J. (WCBS 880) – When asked who lives next to her, Washington Township's Ruth Rice was proud to wave her Green Bay Packer flag and say, "BJ Raji."
Raji is the 337-pound defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers and he's in Dallas for the Super Bowl.
"I never really watched it [football]. Then when BJ got drafted, I became a Packers fan," Rice said.
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Although Raji's been in the NFL for two seasons, Rice still remembers Raji as a gentle giant.
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"He's just a very down to earth, sweet, gentle, wonderful person," she said. "Super nice guy. I've been trying to get him to call me Ruthie. He still insists on calling me Mrs. Rice."
Raji caught an interception and scored a touchdown against the Bears in the NFC Championship and will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
There's no doubt he'll have many fans close to home, including the Westwood Mayor John Birkner.
"I saw him play in high school. He was the big guy in the middle of the line just knocking people over all the time," Birkner said. "There are parties all over town. House parties. Residents are excited. They're flying their Packer colors. I think even die-hard Giant fans are becoming Packer fans today."
