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Former Running Back Claims 'Satan' Played Role In Patriots Support Of Gay Marriage

BOSTON (CBS) – A former New England Patriot isn't happy with the team's support of gay marriage.

Last week, the Patriots joined thousands of businesses and organizations filing legal briefs at the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage.

Former Patriot running back Craig James, who played with the team from 1984-88, said in a broadcast interview he believes the devil inspired the Patriots.

"If I were a current player in that locker room and my livelihood depended on me being quiet or losing it because of my belief system, I worry, I wonder," James said during an interview Friday on Family Research Council president Tony Perkins' radio show.

"So, that's Satan working on us is what that is."

James claimed the Patriots support for gay rights could lead to huge problem in the locker room.

Craig James
Craig James. (Photo by Christopher Blumenshine/Getty Images)

"A locker room is a cohesive deal," James said in the interview.

"A locker room is a place to where everybody has different belief systems but you just get along. In my opinion, I look forward to seeing now, if management tells you and a coaching staff tells you that you better not say anything about the other side, you talk about implosion in a locker room. I know the believers I was with, my teammates, and there were a lot of believers in that locker room, we wouldn't have been quiet for a moment, we would have spoken up."

James now works for FRC as Perkins' assistant, according to the New York Daily News, which first reported James' comments.

The former Pats running back also said times have changed drastically since he was a player in the 1980's, claiming the Patriots had "bible studies" back then when the Sullivan family owned the team.

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