Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz tweets photo of him standing for the national anthem

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz shared a Memorial Day tribute on Monday morning featuring a photo of himself standing alongside soldiers during a pre-game National Anthem performance.

The photo, which shows Wentz holding the edge of an American flag between two soldiers, comes after the NFL announced its decision to punish teams whose players knelt in protest during the playing of The Star Spangled Banner.

‘Freedom sometimes comes at a cost,’ he wrote in the tweet. ‘Today, I just want to thank all of the brave men & women who have sacrificed so much to provide us w/ the freedoms we have in this country.

‘Its often taken for granted and y’all don’t get the recognition you deserve. So thank you & God bless!’

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz shared a Memorial Day tribute on Monday morning featuring a photo of himself standing alongside soldiers

Wentz has said he is looking forward to the Eagles' upcoming White House visit on June 5, despite other NFL players' criticism of President Donald Trump's decision to back the new NFL rule

Wentz has said he is looking forward to the Eagles’ upcoming White House visit on June 5, despite other NFL players’ criticism of President Donald Trump’s decision to back the new NFL rule

While several NFL players criticized President Donald Trump for backing the NFL’s decision to fine players, Wentz has said he is looking forward to the Eagles’ upcoming White House visit on June 5.

‘Personally, I don’t view it (this way), I know some people do, but I don’t view it as a political thing whatsoever. I don’t mess with politics very often, but I will be involved in going to that,’ Wentz said on Tuesday.

He added: ‘For me personally, if the team decides as a whole, most guys want to go and be a part of it, I will be attending with them. I think it’s just a cool way to receive the honor, kind of nationally and be recognized.’

His comments come as teammate Chris Long spoke out against the new national anthem rule.

Long said the owners’ decision was made out of concern for the NFL’s bottom line and fears that President Trump would turn his political base against the league, America’s most popular professional sports organization.

‘This is not patriotism. Don’t get it confused,’ the two-time Super Bowl champion wrote on Twitter.

‘These owners don’t love America more than the players demonstrating and taking real action to improve it,’ he said, adding he would be committed to using his platform to affect change.

Pro-Trump commentator Britt McHenry blasted Long and accused him of ‘pandering’ and seeing ‘publicity’.

She tweeted: ‘Question. How much do you love the publicity of being a champion vs social issues vs you know the actual business and what people want?

Several NFL players responded harshly Thursday to President Donald Trump's comments supporting the league's new national anthem policy, which calls for fines or punishment for any form of disrespect during the anthem

Several NFL players responded harshly Thursday to President Donald Trump’s comments supporting the league’s new national anthem policy, which calls for fines or punishment for any form of disrespect during the anthem

‘Not hating either way, but you and your brother pander so much. It’s comical.’

In another tweet, she wrote: ‘Someone ten years into their career has already made MILLIONS. You know what gets them PUBLICITY? Giving up one season of ‘Salary.’ Quickest way to a TV booth when you retire. Sorry I’m not sorry.’

McHenry was referring to Long’s decision to donate his entire 2016 salary to charity.

Long, who graduated from the University of Virginia, donated 6 paychecks to fund scholarships in Charlottesville.

The University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville was the site of a far-right demonstration and a counter-protest by anti-racists, one of whom was killed when she was mowed down by a suspected white supremacist last August.

The other checks were donated to promoting educational equality.

McHenry tweeted that Long’s gesture was insignificant since he comes from a wealthy family.

‘If I made $39 million on ONE contract NFL deal and also came from a rich family, please, PLEASE think critically about why I’d donate a season of salary,’ she tweeted.

‘Hello tax write off. All the pub for 1 mil v 39 mil guaranteed. Libs & Long brothers play you.’

Chris Long’s brother, Kyle Long, plays for the Chicago Bears.

Chris Long angered conservatives when he publicly supported Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who was the first to kneel in protest during the national anthem.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long said the owners’ decision was made out of concern for the NFL’s bottom line and fears that President Trump would turn his political base against the league

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long said the owners’ decision was made out of concern for the NFL’s bottom line and fears that President Trump would turn his political base against the league

'This is not patriotism. Don’t get it confused,' the two-time Super Bowl champion wrote on Twitter

‘This is not patriotism. Don’t get it confused,’ the two-time Super Bowl champion wrote on Twitter

Chris Long also said he would refuse to visit the White House if invited by President Trump.

Kyle Long has not been as outspoken as his brother, but he also said he would not visit the White House, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Chris and Kyle Long are the sons of Howie Long, a Hall of Fame lineman during his career with the Raiders. Long has also been a broadcaster for Fox Sports’ coverage of the NFL.

Several NFL players responded harshly Thursday to President Donald Trump’s comments supporting the league’s new national anthem policy, which calls for fines or punishment for any form of disrespect during the anthem.

‘I think that’s good,’ Trump said in an interview with Fox & Friends that taped Wednesday and aired Thursday.

‘I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem. Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.’

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who knelt during the anthem before several games during the 2016 season and once last season, called Trump’s words ‘disgusting.’

The controversial issue exploded two years ago after then-San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (seen right with then-teammate Eric Reid) refused to stand to protest inequality and police brutality

The controversial issue exploded two years ago after then-San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (seen right with then-teammate Eric Reid) refused to stand to protest inequality and police brutality

‘I say disgusting because of our First Amendment rights,’ he said.

‘We’ve got freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Just because somebody chooses to protest, now we’ve got to be kicked out of the country?

‘That’s not how things should work, in my opinion. It’s not about, just because somebody disagrees with something, if I don’t stand for the anthem, if I don’t like what’s going on, that’s basically him saying I should be kicked out the country.

‘… Everybody is not going to agree on things, everybody is not going to have the same opinion on things, so just because somebody disagrees on something, an issue, with something that’s going on in this country, that they should pack up and leave – that’s absurd, in my opinion.’

Seattle Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin also had a strong reaction to the president’s comments.

‘He’s an idiot,’ Baldwin said of Trump. ‘Plain and simple.’

He added: ‘I respect the man because he’s a human being, first and foremost. He’s just being more divisive, which is not surprising. It is what it is.

‘For him to say that anyone who doesn’t follow his viewpoints or his constituents’ viewpoints should be kicked out of the country, it’s not very empathetic, it’s not very American-like, actually to me. 

‘It’s not very patriotic. It’s not what this country was founded upon. It’s kind of ironic to me that the President of the United States is contradicting what our country is really built on.’

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk