On Friday President Trump derided NFL players who choose to kneel during the national anthem while speaking at a rally in Alabama, saying “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now, out, he’s fired!'”
Since then,teams, players, and commissioner Roger Goodell have all responded with statements defending players’ right to kneel. Goodell said the president’s comments showed an “unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL.”
Sunday gave teams their first chance to demonstrate during the anthem in response to the president’s words, and teams across the league participated.
During the early games teams across the league demostrated in various ways, with some teams standing arm-in-arm together and some with players both kneeling and standing with linked arms. Over an hour after kickoff, the president tweeted about the protests yet again, saying “Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable.”
You can take a look at how different teams chose to show solidarity below.
Baltimore Ravens
Sunday’s first game got started early in London. Some players on the Baltimore Ravens stood arm-in-arm during the anthem, while many others including Mike Wallace, Tony Jefferson, Terrell Suggs, and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis chose to kneel.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On the Jacksonville sideline, it was a similar scene, with some players standing arm-in-arm and others choosing to take a knee. Eli Ankou, Tashaun Gipson, A.J. Bouye, and ten other Jaguars all knelt for the anthem. Also notable was the presence of Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.
Minnesota VIkings
In Minnesota, the Vikings chose to all stand together linking arms in a show of team unity. Members of the ownership and management were also present on the sideline.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans both took a knee on the Tampa Bay sideline.
Houston Texans
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie was on Philadelphia’s sideline, where players stood together with locked arms and some raised fists. Safety Malcolm Jenkins asked the crowd to join the team in linking arms in a tweet sent out before the game.
New England Patriots
The Patriots had one of the most visible protests of the day, with James White, Stephon Gilmore, Brandin Cooks, Lawrence Guy, Alan Branch, Malcom Brown, Malcolm Butler, Brandon Bolden, Devin McCourty, Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Jonathan Jones, Elandon Roberts, Duron Harmon, Adam Butler, Jordan Richards, Johnson Bademosi all taking a knee during the anthem.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos also had a large group of players demonstrate, with close to half the team taking a knee during the anthem.
Buffalo Bills
Atlanta Falcons
Indianapolis Colts
Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
New Orleans Saints
Het bericht NFL players and teams around the league defiantly reacted to Trump’s comments by protesting during the national anthem verscheen eerst op Business Insider.