New England Patriots Fans Boo Own Players During National Anthem Protest

New England Patriots fans berated their team by booing them as players kneeled in protest during the national anthem.

Before the Patriots took on the Houston Texans in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, more than a half-dozen players took a knee during the national anthem performance, — the first time a Patriots player had done so. A roaring chorus of boos echoed throughout the stadium coupled with chants of "stand up," the Boston Herald reported.

The team’s leader and quarterback Tom Brady did not kneel during the anthem, instead, he placed his hand on his chest while he locked arms with teammate Phillip Dorsett. The boos came after President Trump spoke in Alabama on Friday and blasted players who kneeled during the national anthem. The president doubled down on his disapproval in a tweet Saturday which suggested the NFL should fire players who protested during the national anthem.

As President Trump continued to feud with athletes, Brady took to Instagram Sunday and posted a picture of him and teammate James White with a caption that promoted solidarity.

"Strength. Passion. Love. Brotherhood. Team. Unity. Commitment. Dedication. Determination. Respect. Loyalty. Work. #nflplayer." he captioned the image.

President Trump approved of players locking arms as a protest tactic, however, he continued to refute kneeling.

"Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!," President Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon.

This week, not just players, but owners also opined President Trump’s anti-protest rhetoric. Patriots owner and Trump supporter Robert Kraft said in a statement released Sunday that he was "disappointed" by the president’s call for the firing of players who protested.

"I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday," Kraft said. "I am proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities."

Kraft, who accompanied his Patriots to a customary trip to the White House in April in honor of their Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons, posited that the president should acknowledge how sports unified people and that politicians could take a cue.

"Their efforts, both on and off the field, help bring people together and make our community stronger. There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics," Kraft said. "I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together toward a common goal."

"Our players are intelligent, thoughtful and care deeply about our community and I support their right to peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful," Kraft added.

Performers joined in on the protest Sunday as singers in Detroit and Nashville were seen kneeling during the anthem. Local crooner Rico Lavelle sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of the Lions game at Ford Field when he took a knee and raised his left hand in a fist.

The national anthem in Detroit ended on one knee pic.twitter.com/7Fi3wSjHSb

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2017