Players and teams throughout the NFL "continued to protest during the national anthem" ahead of the early Week 4 games today. The Jets "locked arms" for the anthem, and "no player" knelt. Every Jaguars player "took a knee before the playing of the national anthem but stood during the song" (SI.com, 10/1). Members of the Falcons and Bills linked arms on their respective sidelines in Atlanta, while six Bills players took a knee during the anthem (THE DAILY). Fox' Joe Buck noted ahead of Panthers-Patriots, everyone "was standing on each sideline." Panthers DE Julius Peppers was "stepped back from his team, but standing nonetheless" ("Panthers-Patriots," Fox, 10/1). Most Patriots had their "right hand over their heart and left arm around player next to them” (TWITTER.com, 10/1). Meanwhile, Ravens players knelt before the anthem in Baltimore to "pray for unity and equality, and fans boo the crap out of them" (TWITTER.com, 10/1). The Steelers before their game against the Ravens "stood on the sideline" during the anthem (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/1). In London, the entire Saints team "knelt prior to the singing" of the anthem before their game against the Dolphins. The team stood up when the song began (NOLA.com, 10/1). Three Dolphins players knelt during the anthem, then stood for "God Save The Queen" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/1).
The protests today come after President Trump yesterday tweeted it is "very important" for NFL players to stand during the anthem. Later in the day, he "tweeted a clip of the anthem being performed -- with fans singing a portion of it" -- before a Blackhawks-Blues game from election night last year, with the words, "19,000 RESPECTING our National Anthem! #StandForOurAnthem" (USATODAY.com, 9/30).
Meanwhile, Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones on Friday confirmed that he did speak with President Trump last week, noting, "He was complimentary, which doesn't mean that in any way we acquiesced to what he was implying. ... It was a simple discussion. I know him. I've known him for several years. ... There are many things we don't agree on" (DALLASNEWS.com, 9/29).
