So what do NFL players talk about when not discussing the intricacies of zone-dog blitzes, max protection, and layered crossing routes? At some point, the conversation might shift to politics.
USA Today endeavored to discover what NFL players say about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump inside the locker room. The final results do not bode well for Donald Trump, at least in a vote among NFL players. USA Today Sports approached 35 players from seven different teams. Among those, 14 players said they planned to vote for Hillary, three said they would vote for Trump, with the rest either undecided or declining to participate.
Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware told USA Today his philosophy on voting, “Think about your morals, what you really believe in, if you’re a Republican or a Democrat.”
The article places Bills linebacker Preston Brown in the undecided camp, yet clearly his thought process has him leaning in a particular direction. Brown opined, “I don’t like anyone. Who sucks less? I guess I’ll say Hillary.”
The GOP nominee did however receive some support from players such as Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe, who supports Trump and gave a very fiscally sound explanation for doing so. Wolfe explained, “I already pay half my money to the government. I shouldn’t have to give any more…. I’m not saying Trump is the best, but I vote Republican every year, no matter what.
“And this really means a lot to me this year because they’re taking 50% of our checks. You want to take 60, 65% of my check now? I can’t do that. It’s not worth playing the game if I’m going to come out here and take years off my life just so someone else can live.”
More Trump support materialized along the offensive front of the Bills, a team he once flirted with purchasing. Richie Incognito, who has already donated $500 dollars to the Trump campaign, echoed Wolfe when explaining his support for the Republican, “My biggest thing is taxes and creating jobs.”
Bills center Eric Wood also plans on casting his vote with an eye towards protecting his wallet. Wood put it this way, “I am afraid of what having another Democratic president can do with our taxes.”
Though Trump clearly has some supporters, and this poll represents a small sample, it doesn’t appear the NFL vote will figure prominently in turning any blue states red this year.
In the rest of the article, some clear aversion towards Donald Trump became increasingly evident. Though, judging by the NFL’s ratings it doesn’t appear that many people like them, either.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter: @themightygwinn
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