Safety Devin McCourty, a team captain, told Time magazine: "Basic reason for me is I don't feel accepted in the White House". But, according to the team, the picture from this year is misleading. Star quarterback Tom Brady notified the White House that he was dealing with a "personal family matter" and would not attend the ceremony. "And I understand the focus of football very well, I think, as a civilian, and the pride the Patriots rightfully take in what they've achieved with this championship. Have a great day!"
Brady did not provide further details as to why he was not attending. Brady's mother has been battling cancer for roughly two years. On Wednesday morning, Hernandez was found dead of apparent suicide in his cell at a maximum-security prison in MA.
The Patriots declined further comment.
On CNN's Wolf, senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny was discussing the numerous questions Spicer received about miscommunication about the location of the USS Carl Vinson in the South China Sea when the complaint about questioners came in.
ESPN's longest-tenured employee, Seton Hall graduate Bob Ley, expressed his surprise that the Patriots were still visiting the White House after the Hernandez news.
The President is a big fan and a friend of Brady's.
Standoff: "Charging Bull" artist wants "Fearless Girl" out of the way
State Street said at the time the statue was installed that a quarter of Wall Street's 3,000 companies have no women directors. De Blasio's office responded to request for further comment by pointing NewsHour back to the mayor's tweet .
Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft seemed to have a good time at the event. Both are known among Trump's friends, and Kraft dined with the president and the Japanese prime minister in February at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida before traveling to Washington for a brief visit to the White House.
Having new photos of him and Trump together would do little to win back the affection of those he's already alienated.
Just as a refresher, the Patriots' Super Bowl win was the only game all season where Brady's mom, Galynn, was able to attend. The outspoken Bennett had joked that he might move to outer space after Donald J. Trump was elected. Belichick, the Patriots coach, and his decision to chip away at Atlanta's 25-point lead with a field goal.
"When my son grows up and I believe the legacy of our president is going to be what it is, I don't want him to say, 'Hey Dad, why'd you go when you knew the right thing was to not go, '" Long says in the video.
Seven members of the team did not attend the White House event, including some who said they were skipping it for political reasons.
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