Baltimore Ravens player Benjamin Watson said in an interview early Monday that there was a "tremendous amount of hurt" after President Trump's attack on players who refuse to stand during the national anthem.

Watson said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he was in London for a Ravens game when he heard about Trump's comments.

"There was a tremendous amount of emotion. There was a tremendous amount of hurt," he said.

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"We felt, as many others did, that this was a direct attack on our brotherhood."

Watson said name-calling is something the team doesn't stand for.

"But even to imply that we don't have the right to express ourselves in that way, whether you agree or not, is something that we really took to heart," he said.

"It was an emotional time."

The team's response was "organic," he added. Some players decided to kneel and others locked arms.

NFL players across the country on Sunday knelt or locked arms when the national anthem played during their games.

The moves come after Trump last week attacked players who refused to stand during the national anthem.

Trump on Monday continued to escalate his attacks.

"Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday (which was a small percentage of total). These are fans who demand respect for our Flag!" Trump tweeted.

Trump also said the issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race, but is about respect for the country, its flag and the national anthem.

"NFL must respect this!" he said.