Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Steve Loomis on Friday said that the union will "not be holding the American flag for a pregame ceremony" for Sunday's Steelers-Browns game, according to Kaylee Remington of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Union members had "planned on participating in the flag ceremony" for the team's season opener against the Steelers until some players knelt during the national anthem before a preseason game last month. Loomis said that players not standing for the anthem is "offensive because of the sacrifices that people make that allows" players to "enjoy the success that they have." He added that Browns management and ownership "condoned this disrespectful activity of their employees." Remington noted a group of players also "locked arms during the playing of the national anthem prior" to a preseason game against the Bears on Aug. 31. Browns Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown prior to the game against Bears said that the players "handled themselves well." But Loomis said, "When management allows you to do those things, then that's on them. It's hypocritical of the Browns management and ownership to want to have an armed forces first-responder day, and have us involved in it when they allow their players to take a knee during the national anthem. That's the very representation of what we stand for. That's why we aren't going to" (CLEVELAND.com, 9/3). Browns coach Hue Jackson said, "I respect that. I have great respect for our police, and we have great relationships with them. They are entitled to say what they feel, just like I have always said about our players. They are entitled to say what they feel, and I respect that. I get it" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 9/5).
