THE BEAST

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet has seemingly expressed his support for President Donald Trump's criticism of NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick and dozens of other athletes who have protested police shootings by taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem before games.

On Saturday, Trump reiterated what he said at a rally in Alabama the previous night — that NFL players who kneel for the national anthem should be fired, and called on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to tell them to stand.

The controversy started simmering over a year ago when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first to kneel during the national anthem.

While many fans on social media were supportive of the president, a number of athletes seemed to call out Trump on social media, including New England Patriots' Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, who both posted messages on social media promoting "unity" and "brotherhood."

Earlier today (Sunday, September 24), Sweet weighed in on the topic via his Facebook page, writing: "Everyone talking about 'freedoms' and 'rights.' Just a few of my thoughts on the matter (not that it matters).

"Why is it okay for players to 'take a knee' but it's not okay for anyone else you use their freedom of speech or 'rights' to speak against players taking a knee? You see, just as they have the right to protest during our beloved National Anthem, they also have the right to deal with the fallout.

"Many people will stop supporting not only those players, but those teams as well. Maybe owners and coaches should step back and re-evaluate the fact that it's a game, it's a job. It's not a political platform.

"Play ball and do the job that you get paid millions and millions of dollars to do. Do what you want off the field, but on the field, just play ball."

NFL players across the country demonstrated during the national anthem on Sunday in a show of solidarity against Trump.

Last November, Sweet drew criticism from some STRYPER fans for posting a picture of Donald Trump and congratulating the real estate mogul for "working his ass off for the presidency of the United States of America."

Via Blabbermouth