Despite popular belief, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones hasn't specifically told Cowboys players anyone will be fired or punished in a specific way if they protest the national anthem, as of this writing.
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After dozens of teams and players protested the national anthem over the weekend following Donald Trump's explosive "get that son of a b***h off the field," comments, here's how the Cowboys responded Monday night:
The entire team, including Jerry Jones, took a knee before the anthem. Then when it started, the team stood, with arms locked.
It was reported earlier in the day that the Cowboys would protest the anthem.
Per the Star-Telegram:
"Nothing has been firmed up and they will likely come to some decision in the locker room. It may not be a coordinated effort. It may just be a few individuals.
One player said, "We have to do something."
Said another, "It's not going to be business as usual. He crossed a line. Something will be done."
Jones made his feelings quite clear earlier in the week on national anthem protests.
"I do not think the place to express yourself in society is as we recognize the American flag," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told FOX Business' Cheryl Casone last week at a gala celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Forbes magazine. "So that's not the place to do anything other than honor the flag and everybody that's given up a little bit for it."
As of Saturday, the Cowboys were not expected to take part in any of the anthem protest festivities:
No Cowboys expected to protest, per Garrett_ even though players across league plan to do so after Trump remarks https://t.co/uoWvT8wVIP
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 23, 2017
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Colin Kaepernick's mother, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL players and the NFL Players Association all called out Trump following the comments.
At an event on Friday evening, Trump discussed the protests as "disrespect", saying that he would love to see an NFL owner "get that son of a bitch off the field."
https://twitter.com/nick_ramsey/status/911391835888726017
Trump: Wouldn’t you love one of the NFL owners when someone disrespects our flag, "get that son of a bitch off the field right now"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 23, 2017
The full quote from Trump:
"Wouldn't you love one of these NFL owners... when someone disrespects our flag say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field, right now, out, he's fired."
The live crowd applauded the comments from the President.
Trump also referenced NFL ratings, which are down so far this year, and blamed the drop on the protests negatively affecting the game.
The clear shot here seems to be taken at former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was the driving force behind the protests last year. Many players across many different teams and sports have since joined in on the protest during the anthem, generating a clear controversy between two sides of the country.
