Posted on 02/13/2017 3:48:54 PM PST by nickcarraway
The former NFL tight end makes a pretty solid point
When the Patriots make their trip to the White House later this year, there are going to be quite a few faces missing.
In the eight days since New England won Super Bowl LI, a total of six players have said that they're not going to take the trip to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump.
If you're like me and scoring at home, here is the current list of players who won't be attending the White House ceremony: Devin McCourty, Martellus Bennett, Chris Long, Dont'a Hightower, LeGarrette Blount and Alan Branch.
That's more than 10 percent of the Patriots active roster. By this time next week, it will probably be easier to list the players who are going.
The players who aren't going have made it clear that they're against Trump and his politics, which is exactly why they should go, according to Tony Gonzalez.
The CBS Sports analyst thinks that every Patriots player should attend the White House ceremony for one very interesting reason: They can voice their displeasure to Trump right to his face.
"If you've got a problem, go there and meet him. Say something. That's your opportunity to get your voice out there. To get heard," Gonzalez recently told TMZ. "When people are like, 'I would never talk to him, I would never go.' That's silly, how do you expect to move forward if you don't go."
That being said, Gonzalez is well aware that the president probably wouldn't listen if several players were to complain.
"You have a chance to go talk to him to tell him what's on your mind, maybe he'll listen. Probably not, but maybe he'll listen," Gonzalez said.
The former Chiefs and Falcons tight end never got a chance to visit the White House during his 17-year career, which might be a big reason why he thinks passing up on the trip wouldn't be a great idea.
"If they don't want to go, that's their right. For me, I think that's silly," Gonzalez said.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft doesn't seem to care that six players will be ditching out on the the White House visit. During a Monday interview on Today, Kraft said it happens all the time.
"This is our fifth Super Bowl in the last 16 years and every time we've had the privilege of going to the White House, a dozen of our players don't go," Kraft told Matt Lauer. "This is the first time it's gotten any media attention."
Actually, that's not completely true, Mr. Kraft. After the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX, Tom Brady decided to skip out on the team's White House visit, and that made plenty of headlines at the time.
This time around, there's going to be even more headlines if more and more players continue to drop out.
Hey Gonzo . .the WH trip isn’t the place to make your “views” known. That was on Nov. 8
And our views > their “views”
GMs, take note when it’s free agency time. You want a team player? Don’t look to these guys.
For each player who doesn’t go, I would like to see President Trump invite a member of special forces.
Why are they invited in the first place?
The players who aren’t going have made it clear that they’re against Trump and his politics
Here is how we deal with this, those who have lucrative contracts sponsoring merchandise and food products we boycott them until these cretans are relieved of thier lucrative contract. fixed!
I could hate Trump, but if my team won a world championship at something and I was invited to the White House, I would consider it an honor to represent my team.
These idiots aren’t making a political statement. They are basically saying to club owners that they have no sense of loyalty to their fellow players, coaches and leadership. I would rather take a 127th pick in the draft rookie with a torn ACL than one of these putzes.
Brady skipped the White House two years ago. Best thing to do is ignore them.
Brady skipped the White House two years ago. Best thing to do is ignore them.
Tony Gonzalez of the Phillies never got to go either, but his teammate went to the Senate.
He’s an idiot.
Maybe it’s for the best that they don’t go and express their concerns. Does Trump even speak Jive?
I am OK with these players demurring.
If I had a gold-plated invitation from obozo personally delivered and a free trip to Europe thrown in I would not have accepted.
It wasn’t hate — he didn’t/doesn’t rate that high. It is complete and utter disdain.
I’m embarrassed for Howie Long. But kids frequently disappoint their parents.
Exactly!
Next year no one will remember who went and who didn’t.
Agree. The Special Forces guys are “Patriots.”
Those who choose not to go will most likely regret it once they grow up.
And he threw a perfecto.
The whole thing is embarrassing. If I were Trump I would end the tradition of inviting winning sports teams to the WH. In my opinion, it is desperate politicians trying to associate themselves with champions and excellence. It is, therefore, embarrassing for the inviter.
I would also end the tradition of having the President do an interview on Super Bowl Sunday and sponge off that deal. Let’s get the politics out of sport.
Just my opinion...I’m mostly done with sports anyway.
This new tradition of winning professional sports franchises getting time with the president needs to stop anyway - they won, great. That’s not a reason to take up the time of the president - Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, whoever. It needs to end.
Martellus Bennett is a just slightly better than average tight end that the Cowboys thought had potential. But Da Boys dumped him as soon as it was financially feasible. His attitude was cited as one of the reasons.
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