Cleveland cops unfurl own protest
THE Cleveland police union has decided it will not hold the American flag in the pregame ceremony before the Browns’ first game of 2017, according to a report from Cleveland.com.
The response comes after several Browns players kneeled during the anthem before one of their NFL preseason games, and Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association president Steve Loomis said that didn’t sit well with him or other members.
Even more so, Loomis took offense to Browns management condoning the pregame protest.
“It’s just ignorant for someone to do that,” he said. “It just defies logic to me. The fact that management was aware of what they planned on doing, that’s as offensive as it can get.”
At halftime of the Browns’ game against the Giants on Aug. 21, when the pregame kneeling took place, the Browns explained that while they feel their players should honor the anthem, the organization makes personal freedom a priority.
“As an organization, we have a profound respect for our country’s national anthem, flag and the servicemen and servicewomen in the United States and abroad,” a Browns spokesman said in a statement at the time. “We feel it’s important for our team to join in this great tradition and special moment of recognition, at the same time we also respect the great liberties afforded by our country, including the freedom of personal expression.”
— Zachary Ripple COWBOYS RELEASE THORNTON: The Dallas Cowboys released defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, their most expensive free agent a year ago, and claimed Brian Price off waivers from Green Bay to replace him.
The Cowboys acquired linebacker Jayrone Elliott from the Packers on Sunday for a lateround pick in the 2018 draft. Dallas made room for Elliott by waiving linebacker Mark Nzeocha, a seventh-round selection in 2015.
BILLS DUMP WILLIAMS: Add running back Jonathan Williams to the mix of former Bills draft picks no longer on the team. The 2016 fifth-round selection was regarded as the most surprising Bills player cut Sunday, when Buffalo was required to make room for three players acquired on waivers. Williams had 121 yards rushing and a touchdown this preseason, and was projected to be LeSean McCoy’s primary backup.
DOLPHINS CLAIM PARKEY: Kicker Cody Parkey was claimed off waivers by the Dolphins, who released Andrew Franks, their kicker the past two seasons.
The Dolphins also claimed former Chiefs starting linebacker Justin March-Lillard on Sunday. He played in only five games last year because of a broken hand.
Parkey was released Saturday by the Browns. In next Sunday’s season opener he’ll USA TODAY kick in the same stadium where he missed three field goal attempts for the Browns last year when they lost to Miami in overtime. In other games he went 17 for 19.
STEELERS PICK UP WILCOX: The Steelers continue to tinker with their secondary, acquiring safety J.J. Wilcox from Tampa Bay. Wilcox, a fifth-year pro who played the past four seasons with the Cowboys, was sent to the Steelers on Sunday along with a seventh-round pick in 2019 in exchange for Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft.
Wilcox had five interceptions across 58 games in four seasons in Dallas.
BEARS WAIVE LANGFORD: The Bears waived running back Jeremy Langford. A fourth-round draft pick in 2015, Langford ran for 537 yards as a rookie. He came into last season as the starter, but ankle injuries early on and in training camp this year along with the emergence of Jordan Howard helped make him expendable. —AP