Dont’a Hightower is third player declines White House trip

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No big deal: New England Patriot Dont'a Hightower becomes the third player to say he won't go to the White House - but only because he's been before and not because of Trump
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Linebacker Dont'a Hightower said he wouldn't be at the team's White House visit
The 26-year-old said he's already 'been there, done that' and not a political reason for why he doesn't want to go following Super Bowl win
Hightower previously declined White House trip when Patriots won Super Bowl in 2014, as he went while playing for Crimson Tide when they won national title
Teammates Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty are also not going as they don't want to meet President Donald Trump

By Regina F. Graham and Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com

Published: 21:17 EST, 8 February 2017 | Updated: 22:39 EST, 8 February 2017

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New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower is joining two other teammates in announcing that he will not visit President Donald Trump at the White House following the team's Super Bowl win on Sunday.

The NFL star revealed his plans not to travel to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. later this year while appearing on ESPN's SportsCenter on Wednesday saying he had already 'been there, done that'.

This won't be the first time he's declining a trip to the White House, as Hightower noted that he didn't go on the traditional trip to visit the president of the United States when the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2014.

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New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower (pictured) is joining two other teammates in announcing that he will not visit President Donald Trump at the White House

The NFL star revealed his plans not to travel to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. later this year while appearing on SportsCenter on Wednesday saying he had already 'been there, done that'

The 26-year-old said he went while President Barack Obama was in office, as he was on the University of Alabama's football team when they won the BCS national championships.

The decision as to why Hightower isn't going is however different than his teammates Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty who do not want to meet Trump.

Bennett, a tight end for New England, was the first player to say he was opting out of the celebratory trip because of reasons of not supporting Trump.

Before Sunday night's game the Dallas Morning News asked him if he would attend, and Bennett responded: 'Most likely no, because I don't support the guy that's in the house.'

Patriots defensive lineman Devin McCourty said on Monday that he will not be attending the team's visit to the White House and said he doesn't 'feel accepted' there

McCourty's (right) decision to skip out on meeting Donald Trump follows in the footsteps of teammate Martellus Bennett (left). The two are pictured in September with fists raised high to 'start the conversation' in regards to social injustice

He added he wasn't worried about what team owner Robert Kraft might think, as the CEO of the Kraft group is a Trump supporter.

Bennett confirmed after the game to the paper that he would not be going.

McCourty's reasoning for not going is that he said he doesn't 'feel accepted in the White House.'

'I'm not going to the White House,' McCourty, 29, told Time magazine.

'Basic reason for me is I don't feel accepted in the White House.

Bennett (left) said he wouldn't attend because he doesn't support President Donald Trump (right). Running back James White and linebacker Rob Ninkovich have also said they are unsure if they'll go to the White House to see Trump

'The president having so many strong opinions and prejudices, I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't.'

Both McCourty and Bennett made headlines in September when they raised their firsts high at the end of the national anthem in order to 'start the conversation' about social injustice.

Running back James White and linebacker Rob Ninkovich have also said they are unsure if they'll go to the White House.

The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Super Bowl LI 34-28.