PROTESTS PERSIST
FOXBOROUGH — Graham Gano hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired, and the Carolina Panthers stunned the New England Patriots, 33-30, on Sunday.
The winner served as redemption for Gano, who missed an extra point in the third quarter.
It was the second home loss this season for the usually unbeatable Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The defeat marked just the second time since 2012 that Tom Brady has lost two home starts within a season.
At 2-2, they also now have the same record as the supposedly tanking Jets. Brady finished 32 of 45 for 307 yards and two scores. Beast Mode made a fashion statement. Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch showed up to his game against the Broncos Sunday wearing an “Everybody vs. Trump” T-shirt.
Lynch has been one of the NFL players to consistently protest during the national anthem (he opts to sit instead of kneel), even before the President’s divisive comments last week.
Cam Newton sent a message of his own by raising his right hand in a fist after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Patriots.
Other protests during the national anthem continued throughout the league.
Just before Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers players formed two lines for the national anthem. The players in the front kneeled and the players in the back remained standing, setting off a round of boos at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Many of the standing players placed one hand on their heart, the other on the shoulder of a kneeling teammate in a sign of solidarity.
In London, New Orleans Saints players, coaches and staff knelt before the start of the anthem but stood in unison once it began. On the Miami Dolphins’ sideline, three players were on one knee during the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Houston’s Jurrell Casey, Wesley Woodyard, Brian Orakpo and DaQuan Jones raised a fist while Tennessee wide receiver Rishard Matthews was not on the field for the anthem. He came out of the tunnel after it ended. Nine Browns players, including LB Christian Kirksey, raised their right arms with closed fists.
Rams outside linebacker Robert Quinn also raised his right fist before the Rams-Cowboys game. Punter Johnny Hekker had his arm around him. The Colts tweeted a statement from their players explaining why kneeling is not meant to be disrespectful of the flag.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, as promised, stood on the sideline during the national anthem after watching from the tunnel last week in Chicago. With the exception of center Ryan Jensen and guard Matt Skura, the Ravens all took a knee on the field before the national anthem and received boos from many in the crowd. The team then stood on the sideline after the music started. The Cowboys returned to their usual pregame configuration: all standing along their sideline, but without arms linked.