New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady has responded to President Donald Trump's comments saying players who kneel for the national anthem should be fired.
- Detroit Lions players take a knee during national anthem
- Lions Owner Martha Ford: 'We do not support' Trump's call to fire NFL players
- Pittsburgh Steeler and former US Army Ranger stands for national anthem by himself
- Several NFL owners denounce Trump's statements
- President Donald Trump says NFL players kneeling is "not acceptable"
Speaking to Kirk & Callahan on WEEIin Boston Monday morning, Brady said "I certainly disagree with what he said. I thought it was just divisive.
"Like I said, I just want to support my teammates. I am never one to say, ‘Oh, that is wrong. That is right.’ I do believe in what I believe in. I believe in bringing people together and respect and love and trust. Those are the values that my parents instilled in me."
Players from all 28 teams that played on Sunday participated in some form of protest against Trump. Some teams declined to take the field while others stood locking arms.
"Hopefully it brings everyone together. I think that is what unity and love — like I said after the game, those are the things that concern me. When you’re in a locker room full of 53 players, you’re working to a common goal. You support the guys that you play with and you support your coaches, coaches support you. You just do the best you can do. You’re navigating through life. These things aren’t easy," Brady said to WEEI. "Everyone deals with different challenges in their life and you respect everyone’s opinions and views. You don’t have to agree with everything. It’s hard to agree with your own wife on everything from day-to-day. I have so much respect for my teammates and what we’re trying to accomplish. Hopefully we can keep marching toward this end of the season, keep making improvements, get better and win more football games.”
Detroit Lions Owner Martha Ford was one of many team owners who denounced Trump's comments. She said:
“Our game has long provided a powerful platform for dialogue and positive change in many communities throughout our nation.
“Thanks primarily to our players, the NFL also has been a unifying force in our country and impactful change has and hopefully will continue to be the result of peaceful expression, done so in order to highlight social injustices of all kind.
“Negative and disrespectful comments suggesting otherwise are contrary to the founding principles of our country, and we do not support those comments or opinions.”
Several Lions players took a knee during the anthem on Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons
