The New England Patriots might play like a well-oiled machine on the football field, but that doesn't mean the whole team agrees on everything off the field. Although star quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft have all voiced their support for President Trump, two players have announced that they won't be visiting the White House to celebrate the team's Super Bowl win.
"I'm not going to the White House," Pats defensive back Devin McCourty told TIME magazine via text message. "Basic reason for me is that I don't feel welcome in the White House. With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't," he went on to say.
McCourty isn't the first player to turn down President Trump's invitation to the Patriots to visit the White House. Before the Pats had even won their fifth Super Bowl, tight end Martellus Bennett told reporters that he wouldn't be joining the team on their trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
"I'm not going to go. It is what it is," Bennet said on the Dallas Morning News. The tight end also told interviewers on media day, "I don't support the guy that's in the house," speaking of Trump and the White House.
Some people see this as a sign of disrespect and have taken to social media to speak out against McCourty and Bennet. However, it's important to note that Tom Brady, a friend and supporter of President Trump, also turned down a visit to the White House when the Pats won the Super Bowl in 2015 and President Obama was in office.