Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 9-26-17

Sports
Evans Loses Cool As Bucs Go Backward In Loss To Vikings
Bucs Issue Statement
Right after cutting Min- nesota’s lead to two touch- downs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forced the Vikings into their only three- and-out of the game.
The window for a rally was still open early in the fourth quarter, until it slammed shut with an errant pass by Jameis Winston.
Andrew Sendejo
picked it off and returned it 36 yards to the Buccaneers 35, setting up a field goal that gave the Vikings a three- score lead.
The momentum was gone, and Mike Evans was mad.
The star wide receiver stomped around on the side- line before kicking a water bottle and shoving over a towel cart. After a command-
fight my emotions better than that, and I’ve got to un- derstand it’s just one game. I wanted this one bad.”
Evans, who was shad- owed by Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes, had a quiet seven catches for 67 yards. DeSean Jackson, the in- tended target on the pass Sendejo intercepted, had four receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown. But the Buccaneers (1-1) were playing from behind from the start.
Winston went 28 for 40 for 328 yards, but he was picked off three times, twice in the end zone.
Now the Buccaneers, with injuries to several key players on defense, play twice in the next 11 days with the New York Giants and New Eng- land Patriots visiting.
Kneel During Anthem
MIKE EVANS
ing victory over the Bears in Chicago to start their season, the Buccaneers took several steps backward in a 34-17 de- feat on Sunday by the Vikings.
The frustration was evi- dent.
”I can’t do that. I’m a cap- tain. I got to fight my emo- tions better than that,” Evans said. ”Playing with passion is cool, but I’ve got to
Tampa Buccuneers wide re- ceivers DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans knelt during the national anthem. Evans had his hand over his heart while on a knee.
Shortly after kickoff, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer re- leased a statement via Twitter:
“As we have stated previ- ously, the Buccaneers recog- nize every individual’s constitutional right to freedom of speech, which is crucial to the American way of life that we cherish. We are equally committed to the principles of inclusivity and respect for dif- fering points of view that should be afforded to all Amer- icans.”
Last season before a game against the Bears, Evans sat
MIKE EVANS AND DESEAN JACKSON
on the sideline in silent protest after Donald Trump was elected president.
Jackson said beforehand, in a tweet, that he would make “a statement.”
“I definitely will be making a statement no disrespect to our military of service But we have to stick together as peo- ple!! Unity,” Jackson tweeted.
DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans
Roundup Of All NFL Protests During National Anthem
Von Miller Takes Blame For Broncos’ Loss After Strange Penalty
Numerous players around the NFL protested during the national anthem on Sunday in light of President Trump’s critical comments about those who choose to do so.
Things started off early with the game in London be- tween the Jaguars-Ravens tilt, which featured Jacksonville owner Shad Khan joining his players on the sideline by linking arms with them in a show of unity.
On the other side, Ravens legend Ray Lewis — who has been critical of Colin Kaepernick — took a knee along with several Baltimore players.
The decision to link arms and stand as teammates was one taken by many teams, in- cluding the New England Pa- triots — though the members of the team who did kneel were subjected to boos from the home crowd.
In Indianapolis, a number of players on both the Colts and Cleveland Browns elected to kneel during the anthem. The Browns in particular saw a high number of players choose to protest.
The majority of Denver Broncos players either knelt or raised their fist during the anthem in Buffalo.
On the other side, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy took things a step fur- ther, continuing his pregame
Jaguars owner Shad Khan, center, locked arms with players during the anthem. At least a dozen Jaguars took a knee.
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller took responsibil- ity for a strange unsportsman like conduct penalty that al- lowed the Buffalo Bills to put the game away on Sunday.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Broncos down 23-16, it looked like Denver had made a third down stop that would force the Bills to punt. However, Miller was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for an interaction with Bills quarterback Tyrod Tay- lor that gave Buffalo a new set of downs.
To many observers, the penalty looked ridiculous, as it appeared like Miller and
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, left, is sacked by Denver Broncos outside line- backer Von Miller.
Taylor were having a light- hearted moment.
The Bills used the new set of downs to drive down for a field goal to make it a two- score game, and Miller took responsibility afterward.
stretches as the anthem was performed.
The Philadelphia Eagles were joined by owner Jeffrey Lurie in their pregame show of unity.
A number of Miami Dol- phins players wore shirts in support of Kaepernick ahead of their game against the New York Jets. Some Dol- phins players kneeled, while owner Stephen Ross also joined the players by linking arms.
In Charlotte, a number of New Orleans Saints players, including running back Adrian Peterson, remained seated on the bench during the anthem.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had his team stay in the locker room during the anthem. The only player not to do so was offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva, who stood in the tunnel.
In Detroit, with both the Lions and Atlanta Falcons each linking arms and a few players kneeling, it was na- tional anthem singer Rico Lavelle who made the biggest statement, kneeling at the end of his performance.
In Los Angeles, members of the Kansas City Chiefs and Chargers both kneeled before their game. KC tight end Travis Kelce, who is white, was among those to kneel.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos joined his players by linking arms with them.
In Green Bay, most Pack- ers players linked arms, while a few players sat on the bench.
Bengals players locked arms.
In Nashville, both the Ti- tans and Seahawks remained in the locker room during the anthem as a joint display. An- them singer Megan Linsey also kneeled.
Mike Tomlin: ‘We’re Not Participating In The Anthem Today’
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first NFL team to an- nounce that they will sit out the national anthem as a team.
Steelers coach Mike Tom- lin told CBS before Sunday's game in Chicago that he and his team have decided they will remain in the locker room fol- lowing President Trump’s suggestion that players who don’t stand for the anthem should be fired.
“We’re not going to play politics,” Tomlin said. “We’re football players, we’re football coaches. We’re not participat- ing in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, but to remove ourselves from this circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his nor- mal business and participate in
MIKE TOMLIN
the anthem, he shouldn’t have to be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do some- thing, he shouldn’t be sepa- rated from his teammate who chooses not to. So we’re not participating today. That’s our decision. We’re going to be 100 percent. We came here to play a football game. That’s our in- tent.”
The Steelers lost to the Chicago Bears in overtime 24- 17.
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017