Tom Brady will not be on the New England Patriots’ sideline for the first month of the NFL season. But if he was, he’d be standing for the national anthem.
Asked in an Esquire Q&A for his opinion on the recent protests put forth by Colin Kaepernick and several other NFLers, Brady said he always stands during the anthem but respects those who choose not to do so.
“I always choose to stand and reflect, at a moment like that, on the blessings that I’ve had,” the quarterback said. “That’s how I choose to express how I feel toward the people that have sacrificed for us. I think we live in a wonderful country. It’s certainly not perfect. I don’t think any country is perfect. It’s our responsibility to do the best we can do to change the things we don’t like. I think that’s part of social responsibility, and everybody is going to do that in their own way.”
Two of Brady’s Patriots teammates, safety Devin McCourty and tight end Martellus Bennett, made a statement Sunday night by raising their fists following the conclusion of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Brady’s Deflategate suspension runs through Week 4. He is eligible to return to action when the Patriots visit the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 9.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images
