Tom Brady locked arms with his receiver Philip Dorsett pregame Sunday was to show love and respect of his teammates and opponents. Postgame he talked about the protests but didn’t want to get into Donald Trump’s comments after the president was critical of NFL players, suggesting those kneeling should be fired.
The Patriots, who beat the Texans by 3 in a drama-filled afternoon, had about 16 players kneel while the rest stood with locked arms. While the Texans had no players kneel but almost all interlocked arms to show solidarity.
“I’m not getting into any of that” Brady said yesterday postgame only to change his stance this morning. Brady appeared on WEEI’s “Kirk and Callahan” and decided to directly address the comments.
“I certainly disagree with what he said. I thought it was just divisive.” Brady said, adding “I just want to support my teammates. I’m never one that says, ‘Oh, that’s wrong or that’s right.’ But I do believe in what I believe in, and I believe in bringing people together and respect and love and trust. Those are the values that my parents instilled in me and that’s how I try to live every day.”
The Patriots received home-town boos during the protest, which Brady was asked if he was disappointed during his Monday interview. , “No, I think everyone has a right to do whatever they want to do. If you don’t agree with it, that’s fine, you can voice your disagreement; I think that’s great. It’s part of our democracy, as long as it’s done in a peaceful, respectful way. That’s what this country has been all about.”
The kneeling caused a stir in the Patriots locker room with offensive tackle Matt Light. Light said it was “disheartening” to see the teammates kneeling. “It’s the first time I’ve ever been ashamed to be a Patriot. And I promise you I’m not the only one.” Light told the Boston Herald
