KNEE TO THE GROIN
NFL blitzes Trump with all-out protests
THEY TOOK a stand by taking a knee.
Around 200 NFL players on Sunday joined a silent protest against President Trump’s criticism of athletes by dropping to one knee or sitting during the national anthem.
An unprecedented number of players joined the demonstration — originally made in response to police brutality and other social injustices — in a direct rebuke to Trump’s remarks about the defiant act and his calls for NFL owners to fire players who do it.
In every game Sunday, players took a knee, linked arms or stayed in the locker room for the anthem. The hashtag #TakeTheKnee trended at the top of Twitter for much of the day.
Three New York Giants — Landon Collins, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon — took a knee before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. And star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. raised his fist in a salute similar to others showing their solidarity after scoring a touchdown.
“People out there are going to hate us,” Collins said, explaining the trio’s decision to kneel. “At the end of the day, we respect our opinion and everyone has freedom of speech.”
No Jets players kneeled, but acting team owner Christopher Johnson and staff linked arms and tweeted a photo with the message “Unity.” Johnson’s brother, Woody Johnson, was named ambassador to Britain by Trump and yielded his duties as owner to Christopher.
“It was an honor and a privilege to stand arm-in-arm unified with our players during today’s national anthem,” Christopher Johnson said in a statement.
While the Johnson family did not split from Trump, the President did appear to have lost another high-profile supporter.
Former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan said on ESPN he was “p---ed off” by Trump’s remarks.
“I supported Donald Trump . . . . But I’m reading these comments, and it’s appalling to me,” Ryan said.
Trump ignited the controversy during a rally Friday in Alabama, where he complained about NFL players kneeling during the “The Star-Spangled Banner” — a movement launched by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b---h off the field right now, out, he’s fired,’ ” Trump said.
NASCAR owners vowed to do just that, threatening to drive out any race car drivers who copy the NFL protest.
“Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period,” team owner and retired driver Richard Petty said at an event Sunday in New Hampshire, where there were no protests.
Trump offered his own interpretation, saying his criticism of protesting players had nothing to do with race.
“Great solidarity for our Nation-
al Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!” Trump tweeted. “Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy!”
In London’s Wembley Stadium, the first game of the day, at least 27 players knelt during “The StarSpangled Banner,” before the Baltimore Ravens-Jacksonville Jaguars game — and then stood for a performance of “God Save the Queen.”
In Nashville, the Titans and the Seattle Seahawks stayed off the field during the anthem.
“We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country,” the Seahawks said in a statement.
All Pittsburgh Steelers — except one — remained in the locker room. Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a decorated Army veteran, held his hand over his heart while standing in the tunnel to the locker room.
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy stretched during the song.
The NFL, meanwhile resurrected a unity ad during its prime-time game between Oakland and Washington, where players on both sides locked arms in D.C. At least three Washington players took a knee while Oakland players remained seated.
Even Trump-supporting fans tailgating at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., before the Dolphins-Jets game had reservations about the President’s latest Twitterfueled feud.
“He should be worrying about the government, not the National Football League. I was a Trump supporter. I still am. But now he’s just dividing us,” said Kevin Rice, 30, of Garden City, L.I. “The players have a right to express themselves.”