THREE Miami Dolphins team members defied US President Donald Trump’s fresh assertion that NFL players should stand for the American anthem by kneeling at Wembley yesterday.
However, there were fewer players kneeling in London than the previous weekend when more than 20 from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens did not stand.
Julius Thomas, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills all took a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner nine days after Trump said that those who fail to stand for the anthem should be “fired”. On Saturday, Trump re-entered the debate on Twitter when he said: “Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!”
The entire New Orleans Saints roster did so, many with their arms linked, but only after they took a collective knee in what quarterback Drew Brees had called “a way to show respect
to all”.
Saints owner Tom Benson expanded said he saw standing for the anthem as a way of honouring US military. Last weekend,
half-a-dozen Dolphins –
British-born Jay Ajayi, Maurice Smith, Jordan Phillips, Laremy Tunsil, Julius Thomas and Stills – knelt prior to their loss to the New York Jets.
Wide receiver Stills was seen warming up in a “#IMWITHKAP” t-shirt in a show of support for Colin Kaepernick, the first NFL player who knelt last year amid claims
of racial injustice.
Saints won the match
20-0.
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