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Tom Brady says he’s really not endorsing Donald Trump after all

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says he doesn't pay attention to politics.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says he doesn’t pay attention to politics.

(Charles Krupa / Associated Press)
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Tom Brady has backed off a statement that sounded like he was supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump as the next U.S. president.

Earlier this month, Brady said it would be “great” if the abrasive GOP frontrunner became president, after reporters noticed a “Make America Great Again” hat displayed in the New England Patriots quarterback’s locker.

But on Tuesday Brady said his comment was “taken out of context” and shouldn’t be mistaken for an endorsement.

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“I think that it’s just a different world than when I started in professional football. Even an offhanded comment like that ... that people may run with,” the 16-year veteran said on Boston radio station WEEI. “I mean it’s just people doing their job. I mean a comment like that ... I try to have fun with certain things.”

Back on Sept. 16 Brady was asked if he thought Trump could win the presidency.

“I hope so,” Brady said at the time. “That would be great. There’d be a putting green on the White House lawn. I know that.”

Many people, including Trump, took that to be an endorsement from the four-time Super Bowl champion.

“A great honor from somebody that knows how to win!” Trump tweeted that day, along with a link to a CNN article on Brady’s so-called endorsement.

But Brady said Monday he has yet to make up his mind on which way he’ll vote in November 2016.

“Whatever I vote is going to be my own personal choice based on how I feel,” Brady said. “I don’t even know what the issues are. I haven’t paid attention to politics in a long time so ... It’s actually not something that I really even enjoy. It’s way off my radar.”

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