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SPORTS Monday 25 SepteMber 2017
President’s criticisms spark more protests at NFL games

By ARNIE STAPLETON respect the American flag spects our flag, you’d say,
AP Pro Football Writer or the anthem.” ‘Get that son of a bitch off
President Donald Trump’s The protests started more the field right now. Out!
criticism of players who than a year ago when for- He’s fired,’” Trump said
kneel during the national mer San Francisco 49ers to loud applause Friday
anthem sparked a mass quarterback Colin Kaepe- night at a rally in Huntsville,
increase in such protests rnick refused to stand dur- Alabama.“I’m a son of a
around the National Foot- ing the anthem as a pro- queen,” Falcons defensive
ball League Sunday, as test of police treatment of lineman Grady Jarrett said.
about 150 players sat, knelt minorities. This season, no Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady
or raised their fists in defi- team has signed him, and was among the New Eng-
ance during early games. some supporters believe land Patriots who locked
A week ago, just six players NFL owners are avoiding arms in solidarity in Fox-
protested. him because of the contro- borough, Massachusetts.
Most of the players on Sun- versy. Aaron Rodgers did the
day locked arms with their A handful of white players same with his teammates Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and former Army Ranger
teammates — some stand- didn’t stand Sunday, but in Green Bay. Alejandro Villanueva (78) stands outside the tunnel alone dur-
ing, others kneeling — in the vast majority of those “Standing with locked arms ing the national anthem before an NFL football game against
show of solidarity. A hand- actively protesting were is good, kneeling is not ac- the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Chicago.
ful of teams stayed off the black. ceptable. Bad ratings!” Associated Press
field until after “The Star- Defensive star Von Mill- Trump tweeted Sunday. Linsey, took a knee as she most ardent supporters,
Spangled Banner” to avoid er was among the large In Detroit, anthem singer finished singing. called it “an honor and a
the issue altogether. group of Denver Broncos Rico Lavelle took a knee Jets Chairman and CEO privilege to stand arm-in-
As he prepared to board who took a knee in Buffalo at the word “brave,” low- Christopher Johnson, arm unified with our play-
Air Force One to return to Sunday, where Bills run- ering his head and raising whose brother, Woody, is ers during today’s national
Washington from New Jer- ning back LeSean McCoy his right fist. In Nashville, the ambassador to Eng- anthem” in East Rutherford,
sey, Trump said the play- stretched during the an- anthem singer Meghan land and one of Trump’s New Jersey.q
ers protesting the anthem them.
were “very disrespectful to “I felt like it was an attack
our country” and called on us,” Miller, who normally
again on owners to stop steers clear of politics and
what he considers unpatri- social issues, said of Trump’s
otic displays in America’s comments.
most popular sport. In Chicago, the Pittsburgh
“This has nothing to do with Steelers stayed in the tun-
race,” Trump said. “This has nel except for one player,
to do with respect for our Army veteran Alejandro
country.” Villanueva, who stood out-
The president’s attack on side with a hand over his
athletes turned the an- heart. Both the Seahawks
thems — usually sung dur- and Titans stayed inside
ing commercials — into until after the national an-
must-watch television them was over in Nashville,
shown live by the net- a throwback to the pre-
works and Yahoo!, which 2009 NFL when teams, not
streamed the game in Lon- the league, set pre-game
don. In some NFL stadiums, policy regarding players
crowds booed or yelled at standing on the sideline for
players to stand. There was the anthem.
also some applause. A handful of NFL play-
The NFL and its players, ers had been continuing
often at odds, used Sun- Kaepernick’s protest, but
day’s anthems to show that ballooned Sunday fol-
unity. One of Trump’s big- lowing Trump’s two-day
gest supporters in the NFL, weekend rant. It began
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, with the president calling
joined the chorus when he for NFL protesters to be
expressed “deep disap- fired and continued Satur-
pointment” with Trump. day when he rescinded a
“I like Bob very much. He’s White House invitation for
my friend. He gave me a the NBA champion Golden
Super Bowl ring a month State Warriors over star Ste-
ago. So he’s a good friend phen Curry’s criticism.
of mine and I want him to The president’s delving into
do what he wants to do,” the NFL protests started by
Trump said. “... We have Kaepernick brought new
great people representing attention and angered
our country, especially our many players who took
soldiers our first responders one insult as a personal at-
and they should be treated tack on their mothers.
with respect. “Wouldn’t you love to see
“And when you get on one of these NFL owners,
your knee and you don’t when somebody disre-