Dozens of players decided to kneel and several whole teams (including the Seahawks, Titans, and Steelers) decided to stay in the locker room today during the national anthem after Donald Trump’s controversial comments on Friday about players who kneel during the national anthem.
This afternoon’s Panther’s game also included many protestors…
10 Players from the New Orleans Saints decided to sit during the national anthem:
View from the Saints bench as several players sit during the anthem. pic.twitter.com/TuXoQDY3OS
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) September 24, 2017
52 Players from the Panthers stood:
All Panthers stand for anthem pic.twitter.com/rErcVulbnM
— Kevin Connolly (@kconnollyfox8) September 24, 2017
and 1 decided to remain in the locker room – Julius Peppers.
After the Panther’s 34-13 loss against the Saints, dozens of reporters filled the locker room to hear his reasoning:
“I want to get one thing clear: This wasn’t about disrespecting the military, disrespecting the police, first responders – none of that,” Peppers said. “It was about me making a decision as a man on my two feet. I didn’t want to ask anybody else to do anything with me. I thought it was appropriate to stay in. We know what went on this week; the comments that were made by the President. I felt like he attacked our brothers – my brothers in the league. I felt it was appropriate to stand up with them and stay in the locker room. I know a lot of people might not understand it. A lot of people might be upset about it. And that’s fine. I’m not living my life trying to make everybody happy. I’m doing things that I feel are right and things that I believe in. There are only a few times in a man’s life where you have a chance to stand up for something that you believe in and make a statement. Today I thought that was that chance, and I took it.”
What do you think about today’s NFL players’ actions, both on the field and in the locker rooms?