A number of NFL players and teams "protested in some fashion" before games yesterday, though the demonstrations were "fewer and more muted than last weekend," according to Andrew Beaton of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. At least the Dolphins players "took a knee during the national anthem" prior to their game in London against the Saints, and there were other instances throughout the day of players "kneeling through the anthem, but those were much smaller in numbers than the broad response from players and teams across the NFL last Sunday." Many teams "knelt before the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner, then rose as a group for its playing" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/2). USA TODAY's Bell, Brady & Jones in a front-page piece note the anthem was an NFL flashpoint for another Sunday, but at what "seemed a lower temperature this time." The passage of time "probably played a part," but perhaps it was also because President Trump had "moved on to other targets." The Ravens "found a middle ground," as they "briefly took a knee before the anthem -- to loud booing -- and then stood for The Star-Spangled Banner." Around 30 members of the 49ers kneeled before their game against the Cardinals -- it was the team's first game since Trump's initial comments -- and the Bills and Lions were among other teams who "had some players kneel." Some teams "stood but linked arms in solidarity" (USA TODAY, 10/2). In DC, Valerie Richardson writes the fewer number of players protesting could be "viewed as a victory for team unity or President Trump, depending on your perspective." The drop-off came after a "backlash that saw some fans burn jerseys and vowed to stop watching games in reaction to last weekend’s protests" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/2).
AROUND THE LEAGUE: THE DAILY offers a look at how several NFL teams dealt with the playing of the national anthem yesterday:
- About 20 49ers players who were in uniform, and about 10 who "didn’t play, knelt during the anthem, while other players stood directly behind them." Each player and coach had his "right hand over his chest during the anthem." 49ers CEO Jed York, who stood behind the team on the sideline during the anthem along with GM John Lynch, said, "I wanted to make sure that we stayed together as a team" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/2). The 49ers were "booed loudly" by the Cardinals' home crowd during the anthem when players took a knee (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/2).
- The Seahawks "took the field as usual for the playing of the anthem" before their "SNF" matchup with the Colts after staying in the locker room last week. Nine Seahawks "sat as the song was played," while the "rest of the team stood." The Colts also "stood for the anthem." There was some "scattered booing as the song ended and the players stood" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/2). No Colts players knelt during the national anthem, though Vice Chair/Owners Casey Foyt and Carlie Irsay-Gordon, daughters of Colts Owner Jim Irsay, and Colts GM Chris Ballard "joined them on the field as they all locked arms." Prior to kickoff, players "wore shirts that read, 'we will' on the front and, 'stand for ... equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity' on the back" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/2).
- Titans WR Rishard Matthews, who said he planned to kneel for the national anthem until Trump apologized for critical remarks last week, "was not on the field for the anthem" before the team's loss to the Texans yesterday. The rest of the team "stood for the anthem," with Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk and coach Mike Mularkey at midfield, flanking former NFLer Tim Shaw, a team captain "fighting ALS" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/2).
- The entire Falcons team "stood and most interlocked arms during the national anthem" before their game against the Bills. Seven players "stood off to the left end of the line and did not lock arms." Six players from the Bills "knelt" during the anthem (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/2).
- Nearly all Raiders players stood for the anthem before yesterday's matchup with the Broncos. It appeared that only RB Marshawn Lynch "sat on the bench during the anthem," which has been his "habit this season." Lynch's attire yesterday "did offer a clue about his motives." He arrived at Sports Authority Field "wearing a shirt with these words on the front: 'Everybody vs. Trump'" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/2).
- Patriots players "placed their right hands on their chests and wrapped their left arms around teammates" during the anthem. Every player on the visiting Panthers "stood for the anthem." Patriots QB Tom Brady: "I thought it was very well thought out, and I’m happy we responded that way" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/2).
- Nine Browns "raised their fists during the national anthem, but the entire team stood, some locking arms" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/2).
- The Saints came out and "took a knee en masse" before the anthem, then "stood as one as the song was played." It was clear they were "trying walk a fine line between continue to promote social awareness and not come off like a bunch of overpaid ingrates out to denigrate the flag, as they were portrayed by a highly offended faction of their fans" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 10/2).
- The Jets "locked arms during the national anthem" for the second consecutive week yesterday. Jets Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson "locked arms" with assistant coach Stump Mitchell and RB Elijah McGuire during the song prior to the game against the Jaguars (NEWSDAY, 10/2). Every Jaguars player stood for the anthem, but, as promised, they "kneeled in prayer prior to the anthem" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 10/2).
- The Broncos "followed through with their national anthem plan," as every member of the team "stood during the anthem" (DENVER POST, 10/2).
TIME TO OPINE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes despite the number of player protests being down, that does not "mean the controversy is over." Gay: "Are there unresolved questions? Lots. Does the NFL have a clear plan moving forward? Errrrr..." This is going to "take a while to settle, if it ever does." It is a "tricky needle to thread, and historically, the NFL isn’t good at threading tricky needles." As for Trump, he will almost "surely declare victory here, interpreting the smaller protests as evidence of his might" (
WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/2). THE MMQB's Peter King writes if the NFL can "make a significant investment (and not just in money) in the issues the players are passionate about and that need attention ... players will be inclined to work with the league on anthem decorum." King: "I say 'work with,' not 'stop all anthem protests,' because some players clearly won’t want to make a deal with the league where it appears they were paid off to stop protesting" (
MMQB.SI.com, 10/2).
BAD NEWS COMING? In Las Vegas, Wayne Allyn Root wrote the NFL "will be brought to its knees." The league will "cave and capitulate soon." The sideline demonstrations will "soon be stopped." And NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "will be forced out, or quietly pushed into retirement" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/2). In Miami, Armando Salguero wrote under the header, "NFL Players Kneeling For American Anthem, Rising For British Anthem A Betrayal To USA" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/1)
RACIAL UNDERTONES: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote under the header, "Anthem Reaction Reveals America's Racist Soul." The only reason so many Americans are "upset over these nonviolent protests is because an average, backup NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and now a handful of other black NFL players, simply took a knee to raise awareness of something that makes a lot of us uncomfortable" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/2).
