By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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So what will President Donald Trump be rooting for during the Super Bowl?

Maybe low ratings, based on his many fights with the National Football League and its players this past year.

The president has blasted players for kneeling during the national anthem, and some players say no, they'll not accept an invite to the White House, if they win the big game Sunday night.

Trump has boasted that he's the guy behind an NFL ratings decline, and he couldn't help but mention the anthem controversy during Tuesday's State of the Union address.

And that traditional pre-Super Bowl presidential interview? Trump took a pass.

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President Donald Trump waves after arriving to give the State of the Union address. (Win McNamee | AFP/Getty Images)

The 52nd Super Bowl takes place Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Here are some of the plays, most involving Trump, that won't be run on the field.

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President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., look on. (AP Photo | Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Trump to players who kneel: You should be fired

Trump opened a new front in America's culture wars this season when he urged NFL owners to fire players who kneeled for the national anthem before games. Several players refused to stand in protest against police brutality directed against minority communities.

Vice President Mike Pence walked out of an Indianapolis Colts game after players on the visiting San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the anthem.

Trump rekindled the fight during his State of the Union address Tuesday when he told the story of Preston Sharp, 12, of California, who began a program to put American flags on the graves of veterans during Veterans Day.

"Preston's reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem," Trump said.

Trump also came down on the side of the law enforcement officers whose actions are subject of the NFL player protests.

"We celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support," Trump said.

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Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Super Bowl team owners tell Trump he's wrong

Both of this year's Super Bowl team owners criticized Trump's initial remarks.

"Every day, I see the genuine dedication and hard work of our players," Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "And I support them as they take their courage, character and commitment into our communities to make them better or call attention to injustice."

“I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the president ," New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. “I am proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities."

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Statement from #Patriots Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft: pic.twitter.com/f5DJeK0Woj — New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 24, 2017

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Eagles players take pictures during Super Bowl LII opening night. (AP Photo | Matt Slocum)

Don't invite me to the White House if we win, Mr. President

If the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, wide receiver Torrey Smith said he would skip the traditional White House visit with Trump. He has been one of the president's most vocal critics on the Eagles.

"They call it the anthem protest," Smith said. "We're not protesting the anthem. It's a protest during the anthem."

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The NFL kept the tax break Trump didn't want

As the fight over the anthem protests waged, Trump threatened to take away the ability of states and localities to sell tax-free municipal bonds to fund sports stadiums.

But he eventually acquiesced and signed the Republican tax bill that included the provision.

Such subsidies cost the federal government $3.7 billion in lost revenue from 2000 to 2016, according to the Brookings Institution, a liberal public policy group.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., had sought to kill the break, and said it was "insane" that the tax provision remained in the final bill.

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Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017

Insane that my bipartisan bill ending sweetheart tax giveaways for NFL stadium construction doesn’t get included. They are preserving so many tax gifts for the most privileged while ending breaks for low and middle income Americans. https://t.co/0Uw13k95Jb — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) December 16, 2017

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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft after the American Football Conference championship game in Foxborough, Mass. on Jan. 21. (AP Photo | Winslow Townson)

Some owners backed the president

Before the controversy, NFL owners contributed more than $10 million on behalf of Trump, including campaign contributions and donations to his inaugural fund.

His backers included Kraft, the Patriots' owner, who gave $1 million to his inaugural committee.

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The Tropicana is one of the remaining casinos in Atlantic City. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Wanna bet? Trump said no

Over the objection of the Trump administration, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from New Jersey on overturning the federal ban on sports betting, with a ruling expected later this year.

After urging the justices not to take the case, U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco then argued that the ban should be upheld.

Despite the ban, the American Gaming Association, the casino industry trade group, estimated that $4.8 billion would be bet on this year's Super Bowl. Less than $200 million of it will be bet legally, the group said.

"Thanks to the failed federal ban on sports betting, Americans are sending billions of their hard-earned dollars to corner bookies, shady offshore operators and other criminal enterprises," said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the gaming association, which spent $1.4 million to lobby last year, including this issue.

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Trump isn't talking before this Super Bowl

Trump won't sit down for an interview with NBC, the network airing the Super Bowl, ending a tradition going back to President George W. Bush.

When Fox broadcast the Super Bowl last year, Trump was interviewed by then-Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly, a friend and political ally.

That was the interview where Trump praised Russian leader Vladmir Putin, who U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded intervened on behalf of the Republican presidential nominee in the 2016 election. The FBI is investigating whether there was any collusion.

When O'Reilly declared, "Putin is a killer," Trump responded, "Well, you think our country is so innocent?"

While regularly singing the praises of Fox News, whose program hosts usually are supportive of the president, Trump has criticized NBC News for its reporting.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at a press conference before Super Bowl LII. (Kirby Lee | USA Today Sports)

The league plays politics

The National Football League's political action committee, Gridiron PAC, doubled its campaign contributions to $624,250 for the 2016 elections from $311,750 two years earlier, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.

The PAC is sitting on $1 mililion for use in 2018.

The league also spent $850,000 last year to lobby on issues such as taxes, player safety and sports betting.

The players' union started their own PAC and raised $723,287 last year, Federal Election Commission filings show.

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Donald Trump (right), then the owner of the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, poses with quarterback Doug Flutie (center) and coach Walt Michaels (left). (AP Photo | Marty Lederhandler)

Trump fought the NFL once before

Trump once owned a pro football team, though it was in the upstart United States Football League, not the NFL.

The owner of the New Jersey Generals, Trump pushed the league to move its games to the fall from the spring.

So, the league — with Trump supplying the lawyers — filed an antitrust and monopoly lawsuit against NFL seeking $1.69 billion.

Trump won, but not really. A jury sided with the league, but only awarded $3 in damages.

The USFL folded and never played a fall season.

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More on Trump and the NFL

Eagles' Jeffrey Lurie responds to Donald Trump's call for NFL owners to 'fire' National Anthem protesting players

Trump uses comments and Twitter to battle NBA, NFL

Trump goes on offense against the NFL

What Americans think of the NFL protests -- and Trump's response to them

Trump says his NFL criticism has 'nothing to do with race'

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.