McNabb excited about Obama presidency

McNabb said he related to what Obama went through during the campaign.

"For people to make assumptions without even talking to the guy or getting to know him, it's similar to everything that I've been through,'' McNabb said. "Obviously, it's on a different level with him, because he's the president of the United States, but I just watched the way he handled it - standing strong up there, continuing not to get rattled. In that situation, it's easy to get rattled and try to fire back, but he continued to stay even-keeled, and stayed focused on his plan and his goal.''

Brian Westbrook said he used to wonder why his mother watched speeches and debates; he wasn't interested. But over the past few years, he said, he has come to understand "that it affects all of us in some way . . . I think it means a lot to everyone to have some change coming up soon.''

Westbrook acknowledged he tried to stay awake until Obama spoke Tuesday night, but fell asleep a few minutes too soon. He said his interest was partly "because of Obama, but I think I probably paid more attention to it because I'm getting older. You start to see these things a little bit differently. You start paying taxes and stuff like that.''

Of course, higher-bracket taxpayers such as "Brian the ballcarrier,'' who signed a 3-year, $21 million revision to his contract earlier this season, might pay more under Obama's tax plan.

"If we could find a way to lower taxes for everybody, it would be great, but I think one of the things that Obama tried to mention is [the need to work] for the greater good, and opportunity for everybody to get better . . . hopefully, that will happen,'' Westbrook said. *