On Friday President Trump derided NFL players who choose to kneel during the national anthem while speaking at a rally in Alabama, saying “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now, out, he’s fired!'”
Since then, teams, players, and commissioner Roger Goodell have all responded with statements defending players’ right to kneel. Goodell said the president’s comments showed an “unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL.”
Sunday gave teams their first chance to demonstrate during the anthem in response to the president’s words, and teams across the league participated.
During the early games teams across the league demonstrated in various ways, with some teams standing arm-in-arm together and some with players both kneeling and standing with linked arms. Over an hour after kickoff, the president tweeted about the protests yet again, saying “Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable.”
You can take a look at how different teams chose to show solidarity below.
Baltimore Ravens
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Sunday’s first game got started early in London. Some players on the Baltimore Ravens stood arm-in-arm during the anthem, while many others including Mike Wallace, Tony Jefferson, Terrell Suggs, and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis chose to kneel.
Jacksonville Jaguars
AP Photo/Tim Ireland
On the Jacksonville sideline, it was a similar scene, with some players standing arm-in-arm and others choosing to take a knee. Eli Ankou, Tashaun Gipson, A.J. Bouye, and ten other Jaguars all knelt for the anthem. Also notable was the presence of Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.
Minnesota Vikings
AP Photo/Jim Mone
In Minnesota, the Vikings chose to all stand together linking arms in a show of team unity. Members of the ownership and management were also present on the sideline.
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