NFL: League hits back at 'divisive' Trump tirade

The National Football League hit back at Donald Trump on Saturday, branding the US leader's call for players protesting the national anthem to be sacked as "divisive" and disrespectful. In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed out that players had raised millions of dollars for recent disaster relief efforts and were actively engaged in community programs. "There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month," Goodell wrote. "Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities." Goodell was responding to remarks made by Trump in Alabama on Friday, in which he urged team owners to fire players who protested the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner by taking a knee or raising a fist during the anthem. "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired!'" Trump said. "You know, some owner is going to do that. He's going to say, 'That guy that disrespects our flag, he's fired.' And that owner, they don't know it (but) they'll be the most popular person in this country." - 'A proud bitch' - Trump encouraged NFL fans to walk out of the stadium if they see players protesting during the pre-game anthem. "When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they're playing our great national anthem. The only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it's one player, leave the stadium. "I guarantee things will stop. Things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave. Not the same game anymore, anyway." The NFL has seen widespread protests before games ever since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Several more players have since joined in, nearly all of them black. Kaepernick has since been in exile from the NFL, with teams refusing to sign the 29-year-old. Kaepernick's mother, Teresa Kaepernick, responded to Trump's tirade on Friday on Twitter, remarking: "Guess that makes me a proud bitch!" Several NFL players also lined up to condemn Trump's latest rant. "It's a shame and disgrace when you have the President of the US calling citizens of the country sons of a bitches," Minnesota Vikings running back Bishop Sankey wrote on Twitter. "Might as well call the creators of the Constitution SOBs too," he added. Denver Broncos guard Max Garcia meanwhile contrasted Trump's speech in Alabama to his much-criticized response to deadly violence by white supremacists in Charlottesville last month. "What an emphatic response, where was this passion in response to Charlottesville...," Garcia wrote.