Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said that any of his players who disrespect the flag during the national anthem "won't play in games," according to a front-page piece by Brandon George of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Jones is the "first NFL owner to publicly make a stand about disciplining players who kneel during the anthem." Jones following yesterday's 34-31 loss to the Packers said, "If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag then we will not play. You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag then we won't play. Period." He added, "We cannot in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag. I know the vice president did leave [yesterday's 49ers-Colts game] because in his opinion the teams were. We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag." Jones did not specify "what kind of other demonstration he would consider disrespectful." George notes Cowboys DE Damontre' Moore and DT David Irving "raised their fists" at the end of the anthem yesterday, but no players have "knelt during the anthem during the last month as pressure has mounted across the league with more and more demonstrations." The team notably kneeled before the anthem prior to its Week 3 game, but stood up for the playing of the song (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/9). Jones yesterday noted that President Trump after Week 3 told him that "there was a rule on the books" about standing during the anthem. The AP's Schuyler Dixon noted the NFL's game operations manual distributed to teams "includes a reference to players standing for the anthem, but that it’s a policy and not a rule." The league has said that it "doesn’t plan to punish players over anthem protests" (AP, 10/8).
POKER FACE: NBCDFW.com's Jean-Jacques Taylor wrote Jones is "bluffing" by saying he would bench players who protest. Taylor asked, "What if Dak Prescott takes a knee before a game? How about Jason Witten? What about Ezekiel Elliott, Sean Lee or Dez Bryant?" If any of those players kneeled during the anthem, Jones "wouldn’t do a thing." There is a "lengthy list of players" Jones "wouldn’t sit if they took a knee." Jones is "simply trying to assure his advertising partners that he understands they don’t want the Cowboys associated with any flag protests." The odds are "slim that he’d bench Irving," who had two sacks against the Packers, but Moore is "another story." He is "purely a role player" and "expendable." But no Cowboys player is "going to challenge" Jones' "empty threat." Taylor wrote none of his best players are "interested in being the epicenter of the protest in Dallas for a variety of reasons" (NBCDFW.com, 10/8). ESPN's Chris Mortensen asked, "What would happen if Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant and Ezekiel Elliott all took a knee? Are you saying they are not going to play? Jerry may be a man of his word and say, ‘No, you are not playing no matter what happens’" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 10/9).
APPEARANCE IS EVERYTHING: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel writes, "Fans, you win. The Cowboys and the NFL are going to play the part and dance for you." The NFL has "fallen in line with our nation’s greatest priority: How things look are far more important than they actually are." Engel: "Now please turn the games back on and start buying stuff. These poor owners need to eat." Everything until yesterday afternoon from Jones and the Cowboys "had been a PC tap dance around the issue" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/9). FS1's Shannon Sharpe said, "Jerry is showing these players, 'This was about me. I just wanted to show you and pretend that I was in your corner. But at the end of the day, I don't give a damn about you or those issues that affect your community'" ("Undisputed," FS1, 10/9). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes Jones is "advancing the narrative that the protests disrespect the American flag." Vice President Pence has his "right to protest, but the players don’t?" Bell: "This is anything but clear" (USATODAY.com, 10/9).
FIGHT BREWING? ESPN's Jim Trotter noted there could be a "fight developing" between the NFLPA and teams regarding firm rules about what players should do during the anthem. The union and the NFL recently "met and discussed social activism," and it appeared the two sides had "made some progress." The NFLPA stated it is "unclear whether or not teams can impose these new rules or new policies without collectively bargaining them." Trotter: "If this is based on history, we will have another fight between the league and the union over a working matter" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/9). THE UNDEFEATED's Jason Reid writes Jones' move is "potentially setting up a showdown" with owners and Goodell on one side and the NFLPA on the other (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 10/9). ESPN's Jeff Saturday said, "It’s business at this point. Owners will have to answer questions and go back and forth with their fan base, and they are not willing to lose the marketshare or whatever else that looks like. If there is a rule in place, they will enforce it” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 10/9).
