Miami Dolphins players were forced by the team owner to stand before Sunday’s game when a military band played the national anthem.
Stephen Ross, who was an advocate for players protesting in the past during the national anthem, changed his views on the issue after comments President Donald Trump made saying players should be fired and referred to them collectively as ‘son of a b***h.’.
Before the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Ross said: ‘Trump has made [standing for anthem] about patriotism. It’s so important if that’s what the country is looking at to look at [the protest] differently.’
Ross asserted that the issue last year was raising awareness for equality and other subjects that did not involve patriotism.
Miami Dolphins players were forced by team owner Stephen Ross (above) to stand before Sunday’s game when a military band played the national anthem
‘Its a different dialogue today,’ he said. ‘Whenever you’re dealing with the flag, you’re dealing with something different. [the President] has changed that whole paradigm of what protest is.
‘I think it’s incumbent upon the players today, because of how the public is looking at it, to stand and salute the flag.’
The team has had several players kneeling for all except one of their past 19 games going back to last season.
But three players did not join the team on the field during the anthem on Sunday.
Tight end Julius Thomas, safety Michael Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills remained off the field during the anthem before coming onto it once it ended.
Plus, Titans receiver Rishard Matthews stayed in the locker room during the national anthem for the second straight week as the rest of his team stood during the song.
Philadelphia Eagles player Malcom Jenkins raised his fist above his head during the anthem as his teammate Chris Long had his arm around his shoulder.
The Eagles played against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and Rodney McLeod also joined Jenkins by his raising fist during the anthem.
New York Giants’ injured defensive end Olivier Vernon knelt during the anthem before their game against the Chargers.
Plus, linebacker Keenan Robinson raised his fist in the air, while the rest of the Giants locked arms.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted the above comments in regards to the Colts game he left early over players kneeling during the national anthem
Pence stood during the national anthem and put his hand over his heart during the game on Sunday
Several members of the 49ers knelt during the national anthem prior to the game against the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday. This is why Pence claims he left the game early
The president praised Pence for leaving the game in a tweet on Twitter and revealed that he instructed him to do it
Also on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence said that he walked out of the Indianapolis Colts game against the San Francisco 49ers because about 20 players knelt during the national anthem.
The Colts players also had a demonstration of their own, as some wore black t-shirts that said “We Will” on the front and “Stand for equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity” on the back.
‘I left today’s Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,’ Pence tweeted.
‘While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem.’
The president praised Pence for leaving the game in a tweet on Twitter and revealed that he instructed him to do it.
Trump tweeted: ‘I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.’
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is appearing to deny reports that he will stand during the national anthem if he is given a chance to play football in the NFL again.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is appearing to deny reports that he will stand during the national anthem if he is given a chance to play football in the NFL again
CBS NFL insider Jason La Canfora (left) first made the statement about Kaepernick standing during the national anthem while appearing on the television network Sunday while discussing time he spent with the 29-year-old athlete who wants to play in the league
Several media outlets then published reports based from La Canfora’s statement on the live television show in regards to Kaepernick (above). However, La Canfora walked back his comments about the athlete ending his protest on Twitter
CBS NFL insider Jason La Canfora first made the statement about Kaepernick standing during the national anthem while appearing on the television network Sunday to discuss an off-camera chat he had with the 29-year-old athlete.
Several media outlets then published reports based from La Canfora’s statement on the live television show in regards to Kaepernick. However, La Canfora walked back his comments on Twitter.
He wrote: ‘Wanted to clarify one thing regarding @Kaepernick7. When I was asked about his whether or not he would sit or stand for anthem …
‘Standing for Anthem wasn’t something that I spoke to Colin about sat. I relayed what had been reported about him standing in the future…
Around 3.30pm ET, Kaepernick tweeted a Winston Churchill quote seemingly in reference to the earlier reports about his protest.
‘Reports about @Kaepernick7 standing for anthem had not been refuted. However, I cant say if they are true or not. Colin and I didn’t discuss.’
Around 3.30pm ET, Kaepernick tweeted a Winston Churchill quote seemingly in reference to the earlier reports about his protest.
‘A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. Winston S. Churchill,’ he tweeted.
The athlete also retweeted several tweets that said he did not confirm he would stand during the national anthem if allowed to sign with a team.
In addition, Kaepernick has not spoken publicly about whether he will stand or kneel during the national anthem if he is signed to a team for this season.
The veteran quarterback has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season after he severed his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.