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Rex Ryan regrets Trump support, appalled by comments

Michael Adamucci / Getty Images Sport / Getty

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)

Rex Ryan would like a do-over regarding his public support for Donald Trump.

The former Buffalo Bills head coach and current ESPN analyst introduced the then-presidential candidate at a rally in Buffalo in April 2016, but he expressed his regret on "Sunday NFL Countdown" following Trump's shocking comments Friday about NFL player protests during the national anthem.

"Everyone's always been united. Yeah, the views are different but lemme tell you: I'm pissed off," said Ryan, according to CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson. "I'll be honest with you. Because I supported Donald Trump. When he asked me to introduce him at a rally in Buffalo, I did that. But I'm reading these comments and it's appalling to me and I'm sure it's appalling to almost any citizen in our country. It should be.

"You know, calling our players SOBs and all that kind of stuff, that's not the men that I know. The men that I know in the locker room I'm proud of. I'm proud to be associated with those people. I apologized for being pissed off but guess what? That's it, because right away I'm associated with what Donald Trump stands for and all that because I introduced him. I never signed up for that, I never wanted that. That doesn't mean I support 100 percent of the things he says."

Trump referred to any players who protest during the anthem as a "son of a bitch" and called for NFL owners to fire them at a rally in Alabama.

Ryan is among countless NFL owners, players, and coaches who've condemned the president's words.

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