Eli Manning weighs in on Giants QB Jaxson Dart's Trump rally fallout

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he supports athletes who take political stances, but warned they should be prepared to face potential criticism if they do. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback spoke to CNBC Sport about political activism in sports after the Giants' current signal caller, Jaxson Dart, came under scrutiny for introducing President Donald Trump at a rally outside of New York City. His decision to publicly back Trump sparked backlash, including public criticism from his teammate Abdul Carter. "Athletes should be allowed to do it if they feel strong about politics or supporting someone, that's fine," Manning told CNBC. "You just have to understand that there's going to be teammates, fans and people that are going to think different about that." The 23-year-old quarterback had so many reactions to the move he later disabled comments on his Instagram account. He later addressed his Giants teammates about his decision to appear at the rally, according to reports. "I love every single one of my teammates regardless of politics," he said in a statement Friday. Get the CNBC Sport newsletter directly to your inbox The CNBC Sport newsletter with Alex Sherman brings you the biggest news and exclusive interviews from the worlds of sports business and media, delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe here to get access today . Manning said the political differences could be a way to bridge new conversations and understanding among teammates. …