New Orleans Saints coached Sean Payton critiqued President Donald Trump during his postgame press conference following his team's 34-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Payton credited his team's performance and responded to Trump's comments referring negatively to players who protest and suggested they should be "fired" by NFL owners.
"I'm proud of every one of those guys," Payton said. "I'm disappointed in the comments that were made. I think we need a little more wisdom in that office. Seems like every time he's opening his mouth, it's something that's dividing our country and not pulling us together."
On Friday, Trump made headlines during an appearance in Alabama in which he commented on the league-wide national anthem protests by saying that NFL owners should respond to the player protests with the phrase "get that son of a bitch off the field."
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 President doubled down on Saturday amid another battle he waged with former NBA MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, claiming he withdrew his invitation to visit the White House, which Curry and the team have stated they had no interest in previously.
So far, we have seen statements from commissioner Roger Goodell, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and the Cleveland Browns' Dee and Jimmy Haslam, among others.
Even former Ravens legend Ray Lewis, who criticized Kaepernick before, has reverse his position to join in solidarity with those in the NFL.