Former Green Beret and NFL player Nate Boyer has come to Michael Strahan’s defense after calling the outrage over his controversial national anthem performance “ridiculous.”
Strahan sparked anger over the weekend after failing to put his hand on his heart when the national anthem was played during a Fox Sports broadcast from Naval Base San Diego ahead of Veterans Day.
The former New York Giants star, who lashed out at a DailyMail.com reporter on Tuesday when asked for comment on the matter, was the only member of the network’s NFL team standing with his hands clasped in front of he.
Several furious Americans are calling for Fox Sports to fire him after his “unpatriotic” move while the Star Spangled Banner was developing.
However, according to Boyer, who served six years and multiple tours for the US military in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Strahan’s stance was not disrespectful “in any way.”
Former Green Beret Nate Boyer (right) calls the outrage over Michael Strahan (left) “ridiculous”
Strahan (right) sparked anger after failing to put his hand over his heart during the national anthem.
“To be completely honest, it’s a little ridiculous,” the former Seattle Seahawks player said. TMZ about the furor surrounding Strahan.
‘First of all, Mike has a very, very deep respect for the military. He has worked extensively in the veteran nonprofit space. He’s a military brat. You know, he grew up with this (Strahan’s father is a veteran). This is part of your life.
‘The gesture itself, he’s standing there with his hands crossed, no disrespect in any way. I just don’t understand it. I don’t understand that.
“It feels like people are just reaching out and touching something, but it’s like I’m offended to hear that.”
When calmly asked for comment on the controversy after arriving home from co-hosting ABC’s Good Morning America, Strahan exploded at a DailyMail.com reporter on Tuesday.
‘Don’t come to my house, man!’ he shouted before grabbing the journalist’s phone.
Strahan then threw the phone into a nearby bush before heading to his $20 million home with girlfriend Kayla Quick.
Despite calls for him to be sacked, DailyMail.com understands that Fox Sports will not impose any sanctions on Strahan for what was an honest mistake.
Strahan lashed out at a DailyMail.com journalist when asked for comment on Tuesday.
The former New York Giants star took the journalist’s phone and threw it into a nearby bush.
After the angry outburst, he entered his $20 million home with his girlfriend.
A source said: “His teammates are backing him and understand he wasn’t taking advantage of the moment for himself.” There will be no punishment or fine for Michael’s way.
“He may address it, but he’s weighing his options because he never thought this would have happened.” He knows the man he is and almost doesn’t want to address the controversy to give it more life.
“Michael wants Veterans Day to be for those men and women who deserve it and deserve praise, to be in the conversation like this and extend the talk about what people think he was doing, would be a disservice to what means the day.’
Strahan’s Fox colleague Jay Glazer came to his defense on Monday, insisting: “I don’t know if I have a friend who is more proud of his military roots than Michael.”
The source continued: ‘The topic was never broached at this time. All this came later, when the trolls got to work.
‘You have to think, imagine all the times you are at a game or an event that has the National Anthem and they ask you if you are able to get up, to do it.
Strahan’s Fox colleague Jay Glazer (second from left) also came to his defense on Monday.
He was back in front of cameras on ABC on Tuesday after his national anthem gaffe.
“Everyone in those stadiums or rooms is a person who doesn’t have their hand over their heart, including yourself. It doesn’t mean you’re disrespecting anything, it’s just what’s happening in the moment.
‘Michael was in the moment and in no way objected to the current moment. This was an internet controversy that never thought to start.
“Michael hopes to be removed from this controversy as soon as it has been created, he will live his life and worry about what he can control, that’s all he hopes for.”