Buccaneers WR Mike Evans yesterday prior to the team's game against the Bears "sat on the bench, his ball cap removed" during the National Anthem to "protest Donald Trump being elected president," according to Greg Auman of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Evans: "I'm not going to stand for something I don't believe in. ... I'm not a political person that much, but I've got common sense. I know when something's not right." Evans "made it clear that he didn't mean to take away from the 'Salute to Service' military tribute" the Bucs had yesterday, an event that "included an oath of enlistment at halftime and jets flying over Raymond James Stadium after the anthem." Evans: "When Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we've been punked, then I'll stand again. I won't stand anymore." He added that his protest is "different from that" of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the Anthem (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/14). Evans said he would continue to sit "as long as (Trump is) the president-elect." Trump's inauguration is set for Jan. 20 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/13). ESPN.com's Jenna Laine reported Evans "did not ask his teammates for support." He did "hear some boos, which he expected, but his protest, for the most part, was relatively quiet." In fact, many people "didn't notice" (ESPN.com, 11/13).
EXERCISING HIS RIGHT: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes many people "agree with Evans with every fiber of their being." The others "do not agree, with just as much resolve." That division "defines what these past 18 months have been about." This is a "divided country and that has bled over to sports." Evans should be "respected for exercising his First Amendment rights." No one should "have an issue with that, even if they disagree with his specific stance." At the same time, "no one should have a problem with Evans' teammate, [OT] Demar Dotson, for supporting Trump's presidency" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/14).
PATRIOT GAMES: In Boston, Jim McBride notes Patriots President Jonathan Kraft yesterday "stayed neutral in a pregame interview" on WBZ-FM, even after coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady "got embroiled in presidential politics" last week. Kraft: "The brand and the business of the New England Patriots didn’t endorse anybody or anything." Asked if the Patriots had any policy that would discourage employees from publicly endorsing candidates, Kraft said that they "did not" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/14).
