Dallas Cowboys players will not be allowed to play if they engage in anti-Americanism, according to Sunday-published reports from Dallas Morning News’ Brandon George.
The Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, issued the directive after Sunday’s Cowboys/Packers game, saying:
If there is anything 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. …
I know this. We cannot in the NFL, in any way, give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag. We cannot do that. I know the vice president did leave because in his opinion, the teams were. We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues. But there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. Just so we’re clear.
All Cowboys players stood for the national anthem before Sunday’s Cowboys/Packers game. Via SportsDay:
The Cowboys haven’t had a player kneel or sit in protest. Defensive linemen David Irving and Damontre Moore raised their fist at the anthem’s conclusion. Moore did so last week as well; Irving was active for the first time this season after serving a four-game PED suspension.
The NFL Players Association (the league’s athletes’ union) issued a statement framing Jones’ decision as a violation of constitutional rights to free speech and expression:
H/T Darelle Lincoln at TotalProSports.
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