Romney: NFL owners 'friends of mine'

Mitt Romney described two National Football League owners as "friends" during a Monday evening radio show, a comment that echoed one made earlier that he has "some friends who are NASCAR team owners."

The comment came on an Alabama sports talk show, while Romney was discussing where former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning should sign.

After joking he hoped Manning would sign somewhere where his New England Patriots wouldn't have to face him often, Romney mentioned the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins and said "both owners are friends of mine."

The former Massachusetts governor was criticized for NASCAR remark because some saw it as reinforcing the image that he is out of touch because of his immense wealth. It will be interesting to see how the comment will play one day ahead of primaries in Alabama and Mississippi, two states with high unemployment and poverty rates.