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Jets center Nick Mangold wears NYPD hat to honor weekend's slain cops

“I wasn't angry, just saddened," Jets center says of slain police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

By Matt Bradwell
New York Jets center Nick Mangold (74). UPI/Aaron M. Sprecher
1 of 3 | New York Jets center Nick Mangold (74). UPI/Aaron M. Sprecher | License Photo

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- New York Jets center Nick Mangold came out of the tunnel Sunday wearing an NYPD hat and wore in the sidelines throughout the Jets 17-16 loss to the New England Patriots.

The headgear was an act of solidarity for Mangold, who wanted to honor the two police officers killed execution style in New York.

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On Saturday, officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot from close range while sitting in their marked patrol in Brooklyn. The shooter, 28-year-old Ismaaiyla Brinsley, was apparently frustrated about the current state of law enforcement in the wake of Michael Brown's death in Ferguson and Eric Garner's in New York. Brinsley posted threatening messages on Instagram prior to the shootings with the hashtags #ShootThePolice #RIPEricGarner #RIPMikeBrown.

"I wasn't angry, just saddened," Mangold told Yahoo Sports

"The fact that those guys sitting in their car didn't know it was coming ...Thinking of their wives, their kids -- it must be tough. I'm just sad for them, sad for their families. I wanted to do something for them."

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Asked if he was concerned about facing backlash similar to the St. Louis Rams players who inadvertently ignited controversy by displaying the "hands up, don't shoot" symbol during team introductions prior to their Week 13 victory over the Raiders, Mangold said he had no hesitations.

"It didn't cross my mind. Even if there was a backlash, those families deserve the support. I would have been happy to take it. I just wanted to do something to support them."

Mangold is considering auctioning the hat off to raise money for the officers' families.

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