NFL Pro-Bowler gives ultimate praise for Trump, but president may not want his endorsement
It’s almost impossible to hear an NFL player get political without rampantly bashing President Donald Trump.
”(Trump’s) an idiot. Plain and simple,” Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwain said, per Sports Illustrated.
Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall called Trump’s comments regarding anthem protests “disgusting,” according to USA Today. “It’s disgusting because of our First Amendment rights. We have freedom of speech, freedom to protest.”
Even players who are supposedly Trump’s personal friends, such as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, typically offer silence over anything substantive.
So it came as a mild surprise when infamous NFL lineman Richie Incognito came out in stark praise of Trump.
In contrast to the media firestorm that condemned Trump for his interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Incognito actually believes Trump did a great job at his historic summit.
TMZ Sports asked Incognito if he thought Trump sold out America in his interactions with Putin.
“Of course not. That was a power position taken by Trump,” Incognito answered immediately.
Unsurprsingly, Incognito instantly agreed when the TMZ reporter posited that Trump was “a couple steps ahead of us.”
“We’re reinforcing the borders,” Incognito added.
That particular response was completely unprompted, but was likely just Incognito praising Trump about one of his hallmark campaign promises.
As strange as it was to see a professional athlete praise Trump for anything, the president may not want to take Incognito’s ringing endorsement at face value.
Incognito has a controversial history, stemming back to his college days.
Incognito was a standout offensive lineman at the University of Nebraska before behavioral issues all but prompted him to transfer to the University of Oregon. He lasted all of a week at Oregon, as he was dismissed for behavioral issues.
In the NFL, Incognito has been a Pro Bowl talent, but most will remember him for his infamous bullying scandal involving the equally-troubled Jonathan Martin.
Since leaving the Buffalo Bills, Incognito has found himself in a rash of off-field incidents, including an arrest for throwing a dumbell at a man in a gym.
Despite his checkered history, Incognito seemed on board with the idea of working with first lady Melania Trump on her anti-bullying campaign.
For now, the Trumps are probably best off avoiding working too closely with Incognito.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
