Shannon Sharpe: The Patriots should choose to skip White House visit as a team – FOXSports.com

“They’re saying ‘no, I will not, because my life is not just sports. Sometime, at some point, I’ll hang up the gym shoes, I’ll hang up my helmet, put down the baseball bat, and I’ll become a normal, prudent human being in American society. And what I see going on is not acceptable.

And I cannot in good conscience, although we won this as a team – and I would love to share in this moment as a team – I cannot in good conscience go. Because what I think this president is standing for, what he’s saying, the policies he’s implementing are harming the minority communities. I am a minority. Whether it be black, the Latino community, the immigration ban, LGBT – whatever it may be, you’re starting to see athletes take a much more of a stance. Because in the past, if you had a brand, you were making money, you do not do anything to upset the brand-makers or the people that’s buying that product. You keep your mouth shut.”

Geoff Burke Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports