New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who supported Donald Trump during the election, on Monday said he disagreed with the president’s suggestion that NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem should be fired and called the comments “divisive.” 

“I certainly disagree with what he said.  I thought it was just divisive,” Brady said during an interview on the “Kirk and Callahan” radio show on WEEI in Boston. “ Like I said, I just want to support my teammates.” 

The five-time Super Bowl champ, who has said he’s friends with Trump and was spotted during the presidential campaign with a “Make America Great Again” hat in his locker, said football brings a diverse group of people together for one purpose. 

“The one thing about football is it brings so many guys together — guys you would never have the opportunity to be around,” he said. “ Whether it was in college, and all the way into the pros.  We’re all different, we’re all unique.  That is what makes us all special.” 

Brady, whom Trump once called a “great friend,” was among the hundreds of NFL players, coaches and owners who kneeled or stood arm-in-arm in solidarity during the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during Sunday’s games. 

He said he has great respect for players around the league and for his teammates. 

“When you’re in a locker room full of 53 players, you’re working to a common goal.  You support the guys that you play with and you support your coaches, coaches support you.  You just do the best you can do,” Brady said. 

He also said he heard the boos from fans at Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots hosted the Houston Texans, and agreed that they have a right to voice their displeasure. 

“I think everyone has the right to do whatever they want to do.  If you don’t agree, that is fine,” he said. “ You can voice your disagreement, I think that is great.  It’s part of our democracy.  As long as it is done in a peaceful, respectful way, that is what our country has been all about.” 

Trump, during a speech Friday night in Alabama, called on NFL owners to fire or suspend players who take a knee during the national 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.  He is fired,’ ” Trump said.