‘STAR’ WARS
Prez: Owners ‘afraid of players’ Giants CEO to team: ‘Please stand’
President Trump yesterday ripped NFL team execs over the “Star-Spangled Banner” furor— as Giants owner John Mara asked his players to stand for the anthem, but said he’d support them if they don’t.
President Trump, calling it “disgraceful” that NFL owners are “afraid of their players,” has urged the honchos to put an end to protests during pregame national anthems.
“I have so many friends that are owners, and they’re in a box,” Trump told “Fox and Friends” in an interview that aired Thursday. “I’ve spoken to a couple of them and they say, ‘ We are in a situation where we have to do something.’ I think they’re afraid of their players, if you want to know the truth. And I think it’s disgraceful.”
“The NFL cannot disrespect our country. They cannot disrespect our flag or our national anthem. They can’t have people sitting down or kneeling down during our national anthem,” Trump said.
In Thursday night’s game between the Packers and the Bears at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., both teams locked arms and stood in a show of solidarity during the national anthem.
Some fans, too, at the urging of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, stood arm-in-arm.
Amid continuing fallout over the controversy, the NFL prepared for another weekend of gridiron scrutiny:
The mothers of NFL players sent an open letter to Trump Thursday, defending their sons and pleading with him to “put a stop to the divisive language” he’s been using against them.
“It saddens [their organization] to know that President Donald Trump would make our sons — as well as their mothers — the target of inflammatory, offensive comments that are intended to promote anger and hatred, depleting them of their heritage and self-identity,” said the letter, sent by the Professional Football Players Mothers Association and obtained by BuzzFeed News.
Tennesee Titans tight end Delanie Walker said in an Instagram post Thursday that his family has received death threats after he defended his team’s decision to stay in the locker room during the anthem.
Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey said his team would stand for the anthem this weekend. The Steelers, with the exception of ex-Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva, stayed off the field for the anthem last Sunday.