Advertisement New Patriots player Michael Bennett tells team he will stay in locker room for national anthem Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Michael Bennett, who is set to become a New England Patriot, said he told team executives that he would remain in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem before games."I explained to them that my integrity means everything," Bennett said. "I think they respect that about me. They respect who I am as an individual."According to ESPN's William C. Rhoden, Bennett made the remarks while speaking at Princeton University as part of its "Sports, Race and Society" lecture series on Monday.Bennett has protested during the playing of the national anthem in support of former San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The protest agitated many fans and drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who condemned the protesting players and suggested they should be fired.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are supporters of President Trump. Bennett said he was looking forward to speaking with Belichick and Brady about their support of the president."I think it's important not to run away from those conversations, or not hear their ideas about why they think the way they do," Bennet said."I think it's an opportunity for growth to have those conversations," he added. "If we don't allow ourselves to have those conversations, we're stunting our growth."Bennett has also authored a memoir titled "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable."ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on March 8 the Patriots and Eagles would swap their fifth and seventh-round picks in the 2020 draft, per a league source. Schefter said the Eagles would get the Patriots fifth-round pick and the Patriots would get Bennett and the Eagles seventh-round pick.Bennett, who will turn 34 when the season begins, played 16 games for the Eagles in 2018, recording nine sacks. His contract goes through the 2020 season.He has made three Pro Bowls in his 10 NFL seasons with the Buccaneers, Seahawks and Eagles.The deal won't be official until Wednesday, when the NFL's 2019 league year begins.Bennett was scheduled to take a physical with the Patriots in Boston on Tuesday and said he looked forward to being coached by Belichick and playing on a team led by Brady."From a football perspective, there's a respect for Belichick," Bennett said. "I consider him the Yoda of football when it comes to the ins and outs of what's happening around how to prepare for a game.""The Patriots are a team that people love to hate because they always win," he added. "The opportunity to learn from that and be in that environment is good."Bennett would neither deny nor confirm that his younger brother, Martellus, would also join the Patriots. Martellus had two stints in New England before retiring on March 23, 2018."I'd love to play with my brother but I don't want to be the force that forces my brother to play because I'm playing on the team," he said. "I want him to play purely because he wants to play."The game is played a lot better when you truly want to play because you want to play. It's important, if he decides to come back, that's the first thing he should think about. As a brother, that's my ultimate goal to see him happy, and whatever happiness looks for him, that's what I wanted."