N.F.L. players across the country demonstrated during the national anthemon Sunday in a show of solidarity against President Trump, who scolded the league and players on Twitter this weekend.
■ With the support of owners, some of whom joined their teams on the field, dozens of players knelt in silent protests, while Tom Brady and others opted to stand and lock arms.
■ The Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans stayed in their locker rooms during the anthem in Nashville. The Pittsburgh Steelers also skipped the anthem in Chicago.
■ After the demonstrations began, Mr. Trump weighed in on Twitter, saying he approved of players locking arms, but declaring that kneeling during the anthem was “not acceptable.”
Raiders and Redskins Put a Nightcap on Day of Protest
The entire offensive line of the Oakland Raiders, the only line in the N.F.L. made up entirely of African-American players, was joined by virtually the entire team in kneeling or sitting during the national anthem before their game against the host Washington Redskins. It was one of the strongest visual displays of the many protests today, and across the field, the Redskins stood with linked arms as some players chose to kneel.
Many fans at FedEx Field could be heard booing the players while they sat.
Michele Tafoya reported that Raiders Coach Jack Del Rio told her the Raiders players would have preferred to stay in the locker room, but because of the demands of prime-time television they would have likely incurred a delay of game penalty.
The protests were part of a massive show of solidarity in the face of harsh criticism by President Trump, who had called for protesting players to be fired. The day’s slate of games started early, with Baltimore and Jacksonville facing off in London, meaning the protests occurred over a span of 11 hours.
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Trump Sounds Off Again
Every N.F.L. game today has carried some level of demonstration by players, with some teams going as far as not appearing on the field for the national anthem. But nearly nine hours after the games had begun, President Trump once again took to Twitter to condemn the players who choose not to stand for the anthem, and the league that allows it. It was his 12th sports-related tweet or retweet in a 36-hour period.
Players Explain Why They Made a Statement
Miami Dolphins tight end Julius Thomas, who previously had stood during the anthem, instead knelt on Sunday with three teammates. Asked what had changed for him, he said: “To have the president trying to intimidate people — I wanted to send a message that I don’t condone that. I’m not O.K. with somebody trying to prevent someone from standing up for what they think is important.
“Lots of people don’t have a voice, and I wanted to tell those folks that they’re not alone. I used my position to try to empower everybody who seeks equality.”
LeSean McCoy, a running back for the Buffalo Bills, also addressed the issue following his game against the Denver Broncos.
“I can’t stand and support something where our leader of this country is just acting like a jerk, you know, angry and upset about N.F.L. players protesting in a peaceful manner,” McCoy said.
Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, said: “I disagree with what the president said and how he said it. I think it’s very unbecoming of the office of President of the United States to talk like that to the great people like that. And obviously he’s disappointed a lot of people. But as it pertains to the national anthem, I will always feel that if you are an American that the national anthem is the opportunity for us all to stand up together, to be unified and to show respect for our country.”
Trump Says Locking Arms Is Good, Kneeling Isn’t
At 2:20 p.m. Eastern, more than five hours into the slate of games and about eight hours after tweeting that fans should boycott games, Mr. Trump again weighed in on the national anthem demonstrations, issuing his approval for the locking of arms, while still condemning the players who chose to kneel.
The tweet appeared to be Mr. Trump suggesting that the players choosing to lock arms were showing support of the anthem, rather than protesting his remarks.
Odell Beckham Jr. Raises Fist After Touchdown
The protests did not all happen before the games. When the Giants tied the score in the second half of their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Odell Beckham Jr. chose to celebrate by dropping the ball and standing in the end zone with his fist raised above his head in a protest that has been done by black athletes going back to the 1960s. After the brief demonstration, Beckham ran to the sideline to celebrate the score in a more traditional fashion.
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