RENTON, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin had harsh words for the comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the NFL's new national anthem policy on Thursday, as players began to process the new mandate from the league's owners.
Baldwin, a leading voice from the players' perspective for why there were protests last season, spoke passionately after the Seahawks concluded their offseason workout and sounded offended by the president's comments to "Fox & Friends" in an interview that aired Thursday. Trump said "maybe you shouldn't be in the country" if you don't stand for the anthem.
"He's an idiot. Plain and simple," Baldwin said. "I respect the man because he's a human being first and foremost, but he's just being divisive, which is not surprising."
Others around the league didn't see the policy as a potential issue. "I'm really not too worried about it. I would expect that everybody's going to be out there with their hand over their heart, showing respect to the flag and to the country," New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees said.
Associated Press
