OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE MORE PROTESTS THIS SUNDAY?
NFL’s players and teams are wondering what they should do during the U.S. anthem
Some NFL teams or players that, for whatever reason, did not take part in anthem protests or shows of unity on Sunday might do so this week, reports say.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is among those considering it.
He told reporters in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday in his weekly news conference that he’s “absolutely” spending time this week mulling whether to do something before Sunday’s road game against the New England Patriots. Defensive end Julius Peppers was the only Panthers player to have demonstrate at last Sunday’s home game against the New Orleans Saints.
“The time is upon us to do something to bring people closer together,” Newton said, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Newton was among a core group of Panthers players who met Tuesday at the home of owner Jerry Richardson, one of the few NFL owners who did not issue a statement Sunday in support of peacefully protesting players. Newton said players came away from the meeting with the impression Richardson gave his blessing to any such protests. Newton further said in recent days he has consulted athletes and entertainers over how to further respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s continuing calls for the NFL to fire those players who deliberately fail to stand at attention during playing of the Star-Spangled Banner before kickoff.
On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted in praise of the Dallas Cowboys, who along with owner Jerry Jones knelt with arms locked before the anthem Monday night in Arizona, but then who all stood at attention when the anthem played.
On Wednesday afternoon, however, Trump was at it again, telling White House reporters:
“The NFL is in a very bad box. You cannot have people disrespecting our national anthem, our flag, our country, and that’s what they’re doing, and in my opinion the NFL has to change, or you know what’s going to happen? Their business is gonna go to hell.”
Whether you deem them peaceful protests, shows of unity, needed calls demanding action against systemic racism, abhorrent acts of traitorous disrespect, et cetera, you can expect them to continue with Week 4’s games, starting Thursday night when the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is asking all players this week — as well as all fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — to stand for the anthem Sunday before the game against the Buffalo Bills.
“I think that would be kind of a nice tribute as we’re getting started,” Quinn said. “It’s an important time in our world. There are a lot of issues that are really important to talk about, and we’ll spend some time and we have as a team talking through some of those.”
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was asked Wednesday about the protests, and said, “I think it sparked some great conversations. I think that it’s opened people’s eyes. And I think that the one thing I know is that I love every guy in that lockerroom, and when we stand up and we lock arms together, it’s because we truly care about each other, and we truly feel that bond with each other.”
Will the Texans lock arms again this week during the anthem?
“We haven’t spoken about it as a team,” Watt said. “I would imagine so. I think it’s … I would imagine so.”
New York Giants co-owner John Mara planned to meet with his players over the issue.
All parties — well, except Trump — are carefully choosing their words, especially after the Pittsburgh Steelers, before Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, tied themselves in so many knots — unsure what to do, how least to offend — that the team wound up offending millions by electing to remain in the tunnel at Soldier Field during the anthem.
Some teams’ fans this week posted to social media videos of them burning their remaining 2017 season tickets, in reaction to what they deem to be displays entirely disrespectful to flag and country.
Another week, another round of proof that the U.S. is a nation divided.
The NFL is in a very bad box. … In my opinion the NFL has to change, or you know what’s going to happen? Their business is gonna go to hell.