Anthem protest spreads
networks and Yahoo!, which streamed the game in London.
In some NFL stadiums, crowds booed or yelled at players to stand. There was also some applause.
The protests started more than a year ago when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the anthem as a protest against police treatment of minorities.
This season, no team has signed him, and some supporters believe NFL owners are avoiding him because of the controversy.
A handful of white players didn’t stand yesterday, but the vast majority of those actively protesting were black.
Defensive star Von Miller was among the large group of Denver Broncos who took a knee in Buffalo on Sunday, where Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy stretched during the anthem.
“We felt like President Trump’s speech was an assault on our most cherished right, freedom of speech,” said Mil- ler, who normally steers clear of politics and social issues.
A handful of NFL players had been continuing Kaepernick’s protest this season, but that ballooned yesterday following Mr Trump’s two-day weekend rant.
It began with the president calling for NFL protesters to be fired and continued Saturday when he rescinded a White House invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over star Stephen Curry’s criticism.
The president’s delving into the NFL protests started by Kaepernick brought new attention and angered many players who took one insult as a personal attack on their mothers.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, ‘ Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired’,” Mr Trump said to loud applause on Friday night at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama.
The National Hockey League’s reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Sunday they have accepted a White House invitation from Mr Trump.
Among the strongest criticisms of the president yesterday was this from Saints coach Sean Payton: “I’m disappointed in the comments that were made. I think we need a little bit more wisdom in that office,” he said of the White House.
“I want that guy to be one of the smarter guys in the room and it seems like every time he’s opening up his mouth it’s something that is dividing our country and not pulling us together.” AP