While plenty of players around the NFL protested the national anthem following President Donald Trump's "son of a bitch" comments, at least one player didn't agree with the decisions.
Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe discussed the protests with ESPN's Josina Anderson, via Pro Football Talk:
"I stand because I respect the men who died in real battle so I have the freedom to battle on the field. Paying tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom is why I stand. But everyone these days likes to find a reason to protest and that's their right. It's America and you are free to speak your mind. I just feel it's disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their lived and it's maybe the wrong platform. But like I said to each their own it's AMERICA! The greatest country in the world and if you don't think we are the greatest country in the world and you reside here, then why do you stay? A lot worse places in the world to call home. Proud to be an American."
At an event on Friday evening, Trump discussed the protests as "disrespect," saying that he would love to see an NFL owner "get that son of a bitch off the field."
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Colin Kaepernick's mother, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL players and the NFL Players Association all called out Trump following the comments.
... trump taking a veiled shot at colin kaepernick, says owner should say: "get that sonofabitch off the field right now... he's fired!!" pic.twitter.com/ttbOd0VrPG
— fake nick ramsey (@nick_ramsey) September 23, 2017
Trump: Wouldn’t you love one of the NFL owners when someone disrespects our flag, "get that son of a bitch off the field right now"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 23, 2017
The full quote from Trump:
Wouldn't you love one of these NFL owners... when someone disrespects our flag say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field, right now, out, he's fired."
The live crowd applauded the comments from the President.
Trump also referenced NFL ratings, which are down so far this year, and blamed the drop on the protests negatively affecting the game.
The clear shot here seems to be taken at former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was the driving force behind the protests last year. Many players across many different teams and sports have since joined in on the protest during the anthem, generating a clear controversy between two sides of the country.
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