What a difference just a few weeks make. It wasn’t long ago that players, politicians, and the media were all aboard the anti-Trump bandwagon, celebrating the deluge of players that decided to take a knee in protest during the national anthem.
It’s only been a few Sunday’s and already, the number of players protesting has dropped precipitously, not to mention the change in attitude shown by owners and the fans. With all the outrage expressed by those making the sport possible, the fans, the smart folks in the NFL have taken their side. And it just so happens that the most prominent voice backing the flag over the players is the owner of America’s team.
As reported at the New York Post, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he will bench players for “disrespecting the flag” during the national anthem.
His comments came in the aftermath of a hard-fought defeat on Sunday to the Green Bay Packers. “If there’s anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play,” Jones told reporters after the game.
“Understand? We will not,” he said. “If we are disrespecting the flag, then we will not play. Period…We’re going to respect the flag and I’m going to create the perception of it. And we have.”
Jones then shifted to another big event that occurred on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence walking out of a game between the Colts and 49ers after over 20 players took a knee during the anthem. Of course, leftists have been eviscerating Pence for the move, but unlike his critics, our VP actually has principles he stands by.
“We cannot in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,” Jones said. “I know the vice president did leave, because in his opinion the teams were.
Jones, a longtime NFL owner, went on to make a very salient point while defending Pence, “I’m saying our vice president, if in his opinion, there’s disrespect of the flag then he should express himself however he wants to say. He’s got rights, too. He felt that not standing for the flag is disrespectful. I do, too. The league in my mind should absolutely take the rules we’ve got on the books and make sure that we do not give the perception that we’re disrespecting the flag.”
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jones has been more than willing to speak out on the issue. He hasn’t been cowed by the left-wing media precisely because he just doesn’t care what they think or say about him, he says what he wants, which has been a staple of his for decades.
And because of his stance, his team hasn’t seen a single one of its players take a knee during the anthem. They know his threats are serious, and so regardless of the players’ desires, they’re following their owner’s lead.
Source: New York Post