Dallas owner softens stance over kneeling
Quarterback Dak Prescott wants his Dallas teammates to decide for themselves whether to protest during the national anthem. Defensive end Tyrone Crawford says they have the “green light” to do so.
Owner Jerry Jones hasn’t said in so many words, but it appears his hard-line stance requiring players to stand during the anthem has eased amid a national reckoning over racial justice.
When the Cowboys open their season, several players are likely to kneel during “The Star-spangled Banner” for the first time — four years after Colin Kaepernick started the gesture to protest racial inequality and police brutality.
“We all do understand where I stand relative to the national anthem and the flag. On the other hand, I really do recognize the time we’re in,” Jones said last week. “I will assure you, our players, they are sensitive to and can respect what America is as it relates to the flag. And I would hope that our fans, which I think that they will, will understand that our players have issues that they need help on. And they need help along with the majority of America.”
Jones’ tone was different two years earlier at training camp, when he said he wouldn’t even allow players to stay in the locker room during the anthem.
In other Cowboys news, free-agent cornerback Brandon Carr returned to Dallas with its practice squad after starting every game the past 12 NFL seasons. The 34-year-old played the past three seasons with Baltimore after five with the Cowboys and his first four with Kansas City.
■ Lions: Free-agent running back Adrian Peterson agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.05 million plus incentives. The 35-year-old was cut Friday by Washington, with whom he ran for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Peterson, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, is 1,053 yards behind Lions great Barry Sanders for fourth on the NFL’S career rushing list. Peterson’s 898 yards rushing in 2019 would have led Detroit in any of the past six seasons.
■ Bears: Coach Matt Nagy named Mitchell Trubisky Chicago’s starting quarterback, stressing he “won the job” over Nick Foles. The Bears went 12-4 under Trubisky in 2018, Nagy’s first season as coach, before the QB regressed — in part because of a shoulder injury — in 2019. Chicago traded for Foles, the Super Bowl LII MVP, in March.
■ Steelers: Quarterback Josh Dobbs was claimed off waivers from Jacksonville, free-agent safety Sean Davis was signed, and quarterback Devlin Hodges was waived. Dobbs spent 2017 and 2018 with Pittsburgh, and Davis was with the Steelers from 2016 to 2018. Hodges started six games in 2019.
Eagles: Free-agent quarterback Josh Mccown will join Philadelphia’s practice squad, making the 41-year-old the oldest practice squad player in NFL history. The 17-year NFL veteran played in three games for the Eagles last season and last started two years ago.
Buccaneers: Free-agent quarterback Josh Rosen signed with Tampa Bay’s practice squad, joining his third team in as many NFL seasons after being drafted 10th overall by Arizona in 2018. Miami released the 23-year-old UCLA product Friday.
Rams: Linebacker Justin Hollins was claimed off waivers from Denver, with whom he played 15 games as a rookie fifth-round draft pick in 2019 after being voted the Defensive MVP of the East-west Shrine Game.
■ Packers: Rookie linebacker Kamal Martin, the team’s fifth-round draft pick, will be sidelined six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
■ Bills: Fullback Patrick Dimarco (neck) was placed on season-ending injured reserve. The 31-year-old was in on 16 percent of snaps over 16 games in 2019.