NFL PLAYERS PROTEST
SHOW OF DEFIANCE SWEEPS LEAGUE AFTER TRUMP TWEET
National Football League players across the U.S. demonstrated during the national anthem Sunday in a show of defiance against U.S. President Donald Trump, who scolded the league and players on Twitter Friday. With the support of team owners, players knelt, while others, like Tom Brady, opted to stand and lock arms in a show of solidarity.
Trump OK with arms
Sunday Trump issued his approval for the locking of arms, while still condemning the players who chose to kneel. Trump wrote: “Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!” The tweet appeared to be Trump suggesting that the players choosing to lock arms were showing support of the anthem, rather than protesting his remarks.
Not all agree
The reaction was sharply divided on social media, with many fans taking the players to task for their perceived disrespect for the flag, and America. Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza urged fans to boo those players. “It’s time to loudly boo teams & players who refuse to respect the national anthem; we too can exercise our right to protest.”
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas said on Fox News: “I wish that some of these players who get on one knee would get on both knees and thank God they live in the United States.”
Eric H. Holder Jr., former U.S. Attorney General, provided a history lesson: “Taking a knee is not without precedent Mr. President. Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change.”
Others, without the platform of public office or celebrity status, also criticized the players who demonstrated. Wednesday wrote: “Our Anthem has always been a sign of respect & pride for freedom. Interesting that privileged millionaires #TakeTheKnee to disrespect it.”
Singer takes a knee
In a first for anthem demonstrations, Rico Lavelle, who sang the anthem in Detroit before the LionsFalcons game, sunk to one knee and raised a fist at the conclusion.
Brady stands with Patriots
Tom Brady, who is friends with Trump joined his teammates in locking arms. Bill Belichick, the Patriots coach, stood next to Brady during the anthem with his arms crossed in front of his body.
Earlier in the day, Patriots owner Robert K. Kraft issued a statement condemning Trump’s attack on the league, saying he was “deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the president.”
Protests in Buffalo
Reports from 1 p.m. games around the country Sunday showed that dozens of Broncos players knelt in Buffalo. About 10 Saints sat at Carolina. Spectators at the Colts’ home, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, booed loudly after many of the Browns players knelt in a huddle during the national anthem. Colts players locked arms during the anthem despite the boos.
In Philadelphia, Eagles and Giants players and coaches locked arms as a massive American flag was unfurled over the field and military jets performed a flyover. A few players raised fists or knelt, while Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie locked arms with his players and police.
Steelers skip ‘politics’
The Steelers did not emerge from the locker-room in Chicago. Coach Mike Tomlin said the team would be unified in their actions, and the empty Pittsburgh bench was a stark image of the team’s unity.
“We’re not going to play politics,” Tomlin told CBS before the game. “We’re football players, we’re football coaches. … If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t have to be forced to choose sides.”
Tomlin came out alone for the anthem and stood at midfield with his hands behind his back. Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva, a captain in the U.S. army, stood by the tunnel entrance with his hand over his heart during the ceremony.
Ballplayer takes knee
Bruce Maxwell, a rookie catcher with the Athletics, became the first athlete to protest during the national anthem in a Major League Baseball game Saturday night. “My hand was over my heart because I love this country and I have family members, including my father, who bled for this country, and who continue to serve.
Ryan not happy camper
Rex Ryan, the former Jets and Bills coach who once introduced then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Buffalo, said: “Lemme tell you: I’m p***d off,” said Ryan, who now works as an ESPN commentator. “I’ll be honest it’s appalling to me and I’m sure it’s appalling to almost any citizen in our country. It should be.”
Jags, Ravens join in
In a pointed rebuke, Shahid Khan, the only Muslim owner in the league, locked arms with his Jacksonville Jaguars players Sunday before their game in London.
‘Insulting, disgraceful’
Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner before Roger Goodell, said it was “insulting and disgraceful” to insult particular players, Sports Illustrated reported.