Rex Ryan ‘pissed off’ by Trump’s criticism of NFL players

Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan blasted President Trump for his criticism of NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, saying on Sunday that he is “appalled” at Trump’s comments.

“I’m pissed off, I’ll be honest with you,” 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’m reading these comments and it’s appalling to me and I’m sure it’s appalling to any citizen in our country.”

“Calling our players SOBs and all that kind of stuff? That’s not the men that I know,” Ryan, who’s  now an analyst, continued. “The men I know in the locker room, I’m proud of, I’m proud to be associated with those people.”

“I’m pissed off I’ll be honest. I supported Trump, and I’m appalled at these comments. SOB’s? Not the men that I know.” – Rex Ryan just now pic.twitter.com/hsJRRktlsv

— justin kanew (@Kanew) September 24, 2017

Ryan’s comments came as dozens of players knelt and locked arms during the national anthem at the first NFL game on Sunday.

The former Buffalo Bills and New York Jets head coach introduced Trump at a rally in Buffalo during the 2016 election and endorsed him for president.

{mosads}”One thing I really admire about [Trump] is he’ll say what’s on his mind,” Ryan said at the time, according to Forbes. “So many times, a lot of people want to say the same thing, but there’s a big difference: they don’t have the courage to say it. They all think it, but they don’t have the courage to say it. Donald Trump certainly has the courage to say it. That’s what I respect.”

Trump has faced backlash in recent days from after calling on NFL owners to fire players who kneel during the national anthem.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now,'” Trump said at a rally in Alabama on Friday. “‘He is fired.'” 

Trump’s comments brought rebukes against Trump from multiple NFL players, the head of the NFL players’ union and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who called Trump’s comments “divisive” and said they showed a “lack of respect for the NFL.”

Several NFL executives have also spoken out against Trump and reaffirmed their players’ rights to peacefully protest how they see fit.

But Trump on Sunday doubled down on his comments, calling for players to be fired or suspended for not standing during the national anthem and hitting the NFL for not telling players to stand.