Richard Seymour, Benjamin Watson Are Big Israel Football League Fans

This is cool: Patriots owner Bob Kraft took defensive end Richard Seymour and tight end Benjamin Watson to Israel. Every year, Kraft brings players with him when he visits Israel with the Combined Jewish Philanthropists of the greater Boston area, but this time is different: 2007-08 marks the "premiere season of tackle football in Israel."

Kraft, Seymour and Watson attended the last game of the regular season in the Israel Football League.

Big Blue Jerusalem Lions ran out as easy winners over Mike's Place Tel Aviv Sabres squad for a 38-0 shutout victory, heading into the first round of the first-year league's playoffs next week.

Speaking in Hebrew and English before the teams took the field for the regular season finale match-up, Kraft welcomed Seymour and Watson to the Holy Land, and expressed his happiness at "watching American football in Israel, the best sport in the world."

The Jerusalem Post reports that both players offered pre-game pep talks to the teams, with Watson consulting the Big Book of Cliches before going all Knute Rockne on the Sabres: "Play as hard as you can, and put in a great effort," Watson encouraged the Sabres prior to kick-off. "Whatever happened last time doesn't matter. It's just about how well you play tonight."

Imagine what the score would've been without Watson's insights. Next year, instead of pep talks, how about Kraft bring Rodney Harrison with him and let him do his talking on the field. Then we'll see just good the Big Blue Jerusalem Lions are. The IFL doesn't drug test, does it?

Hat tip: Reiss's Pieces