Jerry Jones was pretty clear regarding his thoughts on the Cowboys taking a knee during the National Anthem, but apparently the Dallas owner was more than willing to meet his team halfway in a show of unity.
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Perhaps one of the most shocking images from this past NFL weekend was Jones on a knee with his players before the National Anthem. He chose to stand with his players and stick up for the NFL, but notably he made sure that his team's demonstration came before the actual anthem was played.
It was respectful of the anthem, but Jones had to have known that it (still) wouldn't go over well with many in the crowd, so the fact that Dallas did it anyhow was a testament to the owner and his willingness to not just stick up for the disenfranchised, but stick with his team and the NFL players who were verbally attacked by President Donald Trump.
Recently speaking to the media, Jones went on to explain his decision.
Here's what he said, via The Spun:
"I've never been prouder of my association with players and a coaching staff as I am with this crew," Jones said. "We all agreed that our players wanted to make a statement about unity and equality. They were very much aware that that statement when made or when attempted to be made in and a part of in recognition of our flag can not only lead to criticism but also controversy. It was real easy for everybody to see the message of unity and equality was getting pushed aside or diminished by controversy. We even had the circumstances that it was being made into a controversy."
The main criticism against first Colin Kaepernick and then the players that followed him was that kneeling during the National Anthem was disrespectful both to the flags and the troops it represents. With that said, kneeling before the anthem still drew the ire of fans in Arizona, so one has to wonder...is it really about disrespecting the anthem at this point?
Before Dallas knelt in the moments before the anthem that was perhaps a hypothetical question. At this point, though, it has become a question that needs to be asked in a serious manner.
