Posted on 09/24/2017 3:58:08 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
After President Trump made comments over the weekend that players should be "suspended or fired" for protesting the national anthem, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sit out the national anthem.
Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters before Sunday's game in Chicago against the Bears that his team wouldn't be participating in the anthem because "(It's) not to be disrespectful to the anthem, but it's to remove ourselves from the circumstance. People shouldn't have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate for the anthem, he shouldn't have to be forced to choose sides," Tomlin told CBS.
During the anthem, Tomlin and a handful of coaches stood on a largely empty Pittsburgh sideline without any players. However, one Steeler emerged from the locker room in order to stand for the national anthem.
Alejandro Villanueva stood in the tunnel to the Pittsburgh locker room with his hand over his heart while the "Star Spangled Banner" played.
Villanueva played football at Army and served as an Army Ranger before entering the NFL. Last season, he made comments critical of San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick, whose anthem protest touched off other anthem protests around the league.
"I don't know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that's providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year ... when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year," Villanueva told ESPN. "It's his decision. Obviously he has brought up the issue in a great way. But I think if he encourages other players or other people in the stands to sit down, it's going to send the wrong message.
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He’s one of the few in the NFL who can speak English.
I was thinking the same thing, but I was considering buying a few in kids sizes and having them sent to a children's hospital or similar facility in the Pittsburgh area to be given to some of the kids there.
At least the kids could wear the jersey of a true hero instead of one of the pampered street thugs in the NFL.
Wonder if the rest of the team was taking the knee naked in the shower supporting each other and the LGBTQF pervert faction.
White privilege.
He’s a hero.
That’s a great idea!
Send him a note, I have one waiting for the mailman tomorrow.
Fan Mail and Player Autographs
You can mail fan mail for current players only to:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Attn: (Insert Player’s Name)
3400 South Water Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Great idea!
GOD BLESS HIM...and HELL will be paid for the others.
Curious to see how many Steeler fans will wear his jersey/shirt at the next game. If I was a Steeler fan, I would’ve already ordered one..a sea of #78 jerseys would be awesome to see when the camera pans from the kneeling fools to Villanueva/the stadium crowd. That’s if they decide to come out of hiding for the next game.
= chicken chokers too.
Coach Tomlin and Alejandro Villanueva are to be commended for not being sucked into the Colin Kapernick hyperbole and the blatant disrespect for ALL who served our country.
I have not watched a single minute of football today. Nor will I.
I am so sick and tired of these idiots on the extreme left telling those of us who don't agree with them that we must "respect their views."
No, I don't have to respect your views because clearly you don't respect mine. I come from a family that has a history of military service. My own father and all my uncles served in the Army, Navy and Marines. Some served in Viet Nam.
When you refuse to stand for the National Anthem and for our flag you are protesting my family, my country, my flag.
Yes, I take it personally and don't you dare try and say my family fought and served for your "right" to act like an ungrateful, overpaid primadonna asshole.
Find another way to protest PEACEFULLY and RESPECTFULLY and I'll listen to what you have to say. I may even join your cause. I won't however tolerate your being disrespectful to those in my family who served, to our country and to our flag.
He’s a REAL man, and he should be invited to the White House to be thanked for his service,as well as for being a role model for America’s children.
This was the first autumn Sunday in 53 years of marriage that our TV set was not turned to an NFL game. We survived splendidly and will make this a new habit.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY.
NFL = No Fans Left.
you have to wonder what went down in the locker room.....did he have to ask or request, or did he just go out on his own? no teammates there to support him or have his back? Pure lunacy.....
Exactly.
Also, this just made his team look really bad imo. He looked dignified and strong and decent. they look like losers compared to him.
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