Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins said protesting during the national anthem is not un-American, because at the “end of the day, protests and fighting back is the American way," and the "most American thing you can do is use your voice.” Jenkins, who was profiled by NBC's "Nightly News" last night, said he was "disappointed" with the NFL anthem policy adopted in May, which requires players to stand or stay in the locker room during the anthem. Jenkins said of NFL owners, "They went back to talking about the flag, the anthem and having respect when for a year-and-a-half, they have been hand and hand with us seeing what we've been doing in the community.” NBC's Lester Holt asked, "Do you think it's the role of athletes to stand for social issues?” Jenkins: "Who better? That's what I ask people, 'Who better to do it?' We're trained to work collectively with a team with people from all types of backgrounds, social, economic backgrounds, racial. We know how to deal with conflict and we work to win for everybody's sake." Holt asked, "But is all this good for football?" Jenkins: "That's not my concern. I mean, we can talk about social issues and still have a great game. We talk about domestic violence for a whole year. We talk about breast cancer for a whole month every year. We wear pink on the field. No issues with that. We start talking about black issues and issues of race, now all of a sudden we just want football. We don't want all that extra stuff. We just want to watch the game." Holt added, "Can't have it both ways?" Jenkins: "You can't" ("Nightly News," NBC, 7/25).
PLAYERS SPEAK: 49ers CB Richard Sherman said that he was "involved in a conversation with the league about the anthem issue Tuesday." Sherman said, "They are open for discussion. ... We have started to get suggestions from players, and the league has been very open to hearing those suggestions and they've been very amicable in our discussions about potentially making adjustments to that policy." He added, "Some thought it was short-sighted, but they (NFL) felt like they had to get something out, and I think they should be commended for being open to hearing what the players have to say about it and moving in that way" (ESPN.com, 7/25). In Tampa, Greg Auman notes Buccaneers WR Mike Evans yesterday "spoke to the media for the first time since he tweeted back" at Trump last week when the president "suggested that NFL players protesting during the national anthem should be suspended without pay." Evans wrote in reply to Trump, "You that mad the USFL didn't work out?" Evans said, "It seems like he'd have better things to do than that, so I hit him back with that tweet, just as a question" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/26).
MORE TO THE STORY: In Boston, Ben Volin notes Patriots S Devin McCourty yesterday "didn’t want to deal" with the anthem questions. McCourty said, “That’s what you guys have to cover. Hopefully you put a little side note and throw in things what guys have been doing, because I think that’s more important than whatever anthem policy.” McCourty and Patriots WR Matthew Slater, both part of the Players Coalition, have been "noticeably quiet since the NFL announced that it would continue to work on the new policy." McCourty said, “The Players Coalition is mainly focused on off the field, doing things like that, not the anthem policy and the anthem overall." He added, "We’ll see how it comes out and what happens, but the work off the field, to me, is what’s been very encouraging throughout the league" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/26).
HOT TOPIC: The GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE noteddespite "no clear policy from the NFL," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that he will "continue to discuss pregame decorum with his players." McCarthy has "long discussed the national anthem with his team before the Packers' first exhibition, and that won’t change." Two days before Titans-Packers on Aug. 9, McCarthy said that he will "renew his annual presentation on the national anthem" (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 7/25).
