'Please Stand': Leader of Vets Group Criticizes NFL for Rejecting Super Bowl Ad

Actress Debra Messing Touts 13-Year-Old Son's Anthem Protest on Instagram

Former NFL running back Herschel Walker accused the NFL of essentially giving out "hush money" to stop players from kneeling for the national anthem.

The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner highlighted the fact that the NFL in late November offered $100 million to social justice organizations favored by players.

The move was widely viewed as an attempt by the league to end the controversy surrounding the anthem protests.

"The league gave the players a large sum of money toward their cause. That's hush money," he said, adding that players never should have been kneeling in the first place.

On @foxandfriends, @HerschelWalker gave his #SuperBowl prediction and called on players to stand for the National Anthem in respect for our military. https://t.co/Myqcd79Q8a pic.twitter.com/RzdQR0qcot — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 2, 2018

Walker said Colin Kaepernick would not have begun kneeling for the anthem if he was the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, rather than the backup, in the 2016 season.

"When you have an idle mind, you start doing things," he argued.

Walker said the men and women of the military are what he believes makes the country great.

"Yet you have guys who want to kneel, want to talk about their First Amendment rights. Well, your First Amendment right should be, 'I want to stand for our military," he said.

The former Philadelphia Eagle predicted the NFC champs will defeat New England on Sunday.

Watch the interview above.

Campos-Duffy: NFL Will 'Pay a Price' for Rejecting Veterans Group's #PleaseStand Ad

Tomi Lahren: NFL Will Pay for Anthem Protests as Fans Tune Out