NFLPA responds to Trump: 'We no longer can afford to stick to sports'

NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith has defended national anthem protesters following shocking criticism from President Donald Trump at a rally Friday in Huntsville, Ala.

Related - Trump rips anthem protesters: 'Get that son of a b---- off the field'

In a statement Saturday, Smith said the union will always protect "the constitutional rights of our players as citizens." He added that "we can no longer afford to stick to sports" and appeared to call for the NFL to respond to Trump:

Related - Goodell: Trump's 'divisive' comments show 'lack of respect for the NFL'

The NFLPA released a second statement later Saturday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo:

The peaceful demonstrations by some of our players have generated a wide array of responses. Those opinions are protected speech and a freedom that has been paid for by the sacrifice of men and women throughout history. This expression of speech has generated thoughtful discussions in our locker rooms and in board rooms. However, the line that marks the balance between the rights of every citizen in our great country gets crossed when someone is told to just "shut up and play."

NFL players do incredible things to contribute to their communities. NFL players are a part of a legacy of athletes in all sports who throughout history chose to be informed about the issues that impact them and their communities. They chose - and still choose today - to do something about those issues rather than comfortably living in the bubble of sports. Their decision is no different from the one made by countless others who refused to let "what they do" define or restrict "who they are" as Americans.

No man or woman should ever have to choose a job that forces them to surrender their rights. No worker nor any athlete, professional or not, should be forced to become less than human when it comes to protecting their basic health and safety. We understand that our job as a Union is not to win a popularity contest and it comes with a duty to protect the rights of our members. For that we make no apologies and never will.

Trump has continuously ripped Colin Kaepernick for his anthem protests in 2016. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback remains unemployed with the regular season in full swing, though the likes of Michael Bennett and Malcolm Jenkins have continued his protests and spoken at length about the need to address racial inequality and police brutality in the U.S.