Former NFL coach Rex Ryan is distancing himself from United States President Donald Trump.
Speaking as part of a panel on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, Ryan said Trump’s recent comments disparaging players who protest during the American national anthem are “appalling.”
“I’m pissed off. I’ll be honest with you,” Rex Ryan said on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. “I supported Donald Trump. When he asked me to introduce him at a rally in Buffalo, I did that. But I am reading these comments and it is appalling to me. And I am sure it is appalling to almost any citizen in our country. It should be. I mean, calling our players SOBs and that kind of stuff – that is not the men that I know. The men I know in the locker-room, I am proud to be associated with them in the locker-room.
“I apologize for being pissed off, but that’s it. Right away I am associated with what Donald Trump stands for because I introduced him. I never signed up for that. I never wanted that.”
NFL players, coaches, owners and staff members have been protesting in stronger unity Sunday in light of Trump’s recent comments. Among other things, he said earlier this week that players who protest during the national anthem should be “fired” by team owners.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens played an early game in London and Jags owner Shahid Khan – who donated $1 million to Trump’s campaign – linked arms with players Telvin Smith and Marcedes Lewis during the Star-Spangled Banner.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers did not participate for the anthem before their game against the Chicago Bears.
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