Dallas Cowboys may be planning unity statement before Monday's game?
Dallas, TX -- Several members of the Dallas Cowboys may be planning to make a unity statement before Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals in the wake of President Donald Trump's comments, but the exact details have not been worked out yet, according to multiple sources.
On Sunday, every team had some form of demonstration as a response to Trump's comments that owners should fire players who disrespect the flag by not standing during the national anthem. Hundreds of players, coaches, executives and owners stood together arm in arm, sat, knelt, raised a fist or stayed in the locker room during the national anthem.
The Cowboys and the Cardinals are the last two teams to play in Week 3 and will be watched by millions of fans.
Sources said the Cowboys leadership council, which includes more than a dozen players, met Sunday night and then the Cowboys met as a team. No general consensus was reached during those meetings as to what they should or should not do. The subject was brought up at the Sunday night team meeting with the coaches.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is expected to meet with the players before the game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Coach Jason Garrett has called the anthem "sacred," but he chose not to comment Saturday after a rally in Alabama on Friday night during which Trump said, "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now? Out! He's fired. He's fired!'"
Until Monday, the Cowboys were one of only two organizations to have not released a statement on Jones' behalf, along with the Carolina Panthers.
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson finally broke his silence: "We are proud of the men we have on this football team. Our players have been active and impactful participants in making our community stronger. From the first time I stepped into an NFL locker room at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in 1959, I have lived and seen the sport's ability to bring people of all backgrounds together. Politicizing the game is damaging and it takes the focus off the greatness of the game itself and those who play it.''
Should the Cowboys take a knee? I say NO because we are America's Team and I don't think we can keep that name if we do. I say kneel for the cross or injury on the field but stand up for our flag and anthem.
I am helping Metroplex Military for an event Saturday Sept. 30th at Strokers Dallas. I could not face those Marines I am working with if I disrespected the National Anthem and the American Flag they fought so hard for, could you?
I am curious what your take is on the idea of totally and complete #FreeSpeech while you're on the job being paid by your employer, at the office, or in front of clients. Some of my HR folks out there might have an opinion on this subject. Would it be a violation of an employee's free speech to limit protests in the office, especially if it were in front of clients? Please feel free to share this and let's have a discussion.
A DISCUSSION! NOT A BITCH SESSION! Thanks!
Tom Stokes
Sports+PLUS