Tom Brady Comments on Donald Trump, Locker Room Talk on 'Kirk & Callahan Show'

Tom Brady is 2-0 since he returned from suspension, but the New England Patriots quarterback’s relationship with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made headlines along with his play on the field. 

He shed light on that relationship Monday when he called in to the Kirk & Callahan Show on WEEI 93.7 in Boston (h/t TMZ Sports):

"

I met him probably 15, 16 years ago. We’ve played golf together many, many times and I’ve always had a good time with him.

He’s been a friend of mine. He’s supported our team. He’s supported the Patriots. He’s been on the Patriots sideline a lot. He’s always called me after games to encourage me over the course of 15 years. That’s kind of the way it is.

"

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press (h/t Yahoo Sports), plenty of athletes have denounced Trump’s classification of "locker room talk" during his campaign. The Republican was caught on tape making "crude and predatory comments about women" and bragging about "grabbing women’s genitals and trying to have sex with women other than his wife."

However, Brady did not respond to an inquiry about Trump’s definition of locker room talk and walked off the podium at a press conference, as Joe Giza of CBS Boston shared:

The Kirk & Callahan Show asked him why he did that, and he said, via TMZ Sports, "I don’t want to be a distraction for the team. That’s what my goal is."

The Patriots are known for attempting to minimize distractions from and through the media, but this topic has hit home for many professional athletes because of how often they are in locker rooms.

Many, such as Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford and Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum, did not agree with Trump’s insinuation that plenty of men talk like that in the locker room:

Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reported some of the black players on the Buffalo Bills took issue with head coach Rex Ryan publicly supporting Trump and even introducing the nominee at a rally in the city.

Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl safety Malcolm Jenkins told Josh Paunil of Philadelphia magazine that some of his teammates will talk politics but won’t discuss Trump because of how heated the conversations can become.

Brady is on record as Trump’s friend and golfing buddy, but he likely recognized the divisiveness of the Republican nominee when he elected not to respond to the inquiry about locker room talk.