AP

This year’s political season likely will be as divisive as any in memory. For that reason, PFT aspires to be neutral in all 2016 races of consequence, especially in the race of the highest consequence.

But the reality is that certain NFL figures aren’t staying neutral, which creates news — and possibly acrimony in the locker room.

Case in point: Jets center Nick Mangold supports Donald Trump in the race for the American presidency. Via Seth Walder of the New York Daily News, Mangold tiptoed on Tuesday around questions regarding one of Trump’s most controversial opinions.

Trump has said that he would seek a ban on Muslims from entering the country. Mangold was asked whether supporting Trump could cause issues with teammates, such as defensive lineman (and Muslim) Muhammad Wilkerson.

Per Walder, Mangold wouldn’t say whether he agrees with Trump’s position.

“There’s some things I agree with, there’s some things I don’t,” Mangold said. “Listen, I am not a politician, never will be. There’s a lot of things said. Some things I agree with, some things I don’t.”

That’s a reasonable stance; one of the problems with a two-party system is that folks who choose one party are expected to adopt every plank of the party’s platform. But it’s odd that Mangold apparently didn’t say whether he does or doesn’t agree with Trump’s position on this fairly inflammatory point. Is he disagrees with Trump on that point, why not say so?

“Obviously I’ve supported plenty of Republicans and [am] following the party line,” Mangold said.

Following the party line often means adopting the party’s views. And if Trump is the party’s nominee, his views become, to a certain extent, the party’s views.