Steelers Coach Didn’t Want Army Vet To Stand For Anthem [VIDEO]

DAILY CALLER ^ | 9-24-17 | Peter Hasson

[doug from upland]

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indicated Sunday night that he did not want offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva to stand for the national anthem, instead of sitting it out with the rest of his teammates.

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, was the only Steelers player to stand for the anthem. While Villanueva stood in the tunnel, hand over his heart, the rest of the team remained in the locker room in protest of President Trump’s comments that players who kneel during the national anthem should be fired. (RELATED: Former Army Ranger Is Only Steelers Player To Stand For National Anthem [VIDEO])

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Tomlin said in a post-game press conference that he was looking for “100 percent participation” in whatever course of action the team took during the national anthem.

When asked by a reporter about Villanueva coming out for the anthem, Tomlin said, “Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team.”

Villaneuva played in college at West Point Military Academy before going on to become an Army Ranger. He served three tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, before later joining the Steelers.

[mountn man]

I wonder if his teammates will hate him after this. I'd be worried.

An Army Ranger worry about a bunch of pussy's???

[GunHoardingCapitalist]

Amen brother!..they think the gridiron is tough! Put those millionaires in the sandbox under fire, guarintee 100% will be crying for mommy.

Less than 1% of the national population signs up to serve the 99% that dont! They can eff off.

[Alberta's Child]

There was no need for Villanueva to speak to the team to tell them that. He already came out and said that publicly last year.

I think people like him are going to humiliate other players into getting their acts together on this.

If Tomlin wants 100% agreement among the players on this and he already knows that he's got a former U.S. Army Ranger who is willing to be the one guy out of 46 who won't go along with his teammates, then the only solution here is for the other 45 to get in line.

[TTFlyer]

To be known ever afterward as the “Pittsburgh Kneelers.”

[Yaelle]

Win The Future. Unbelievable.

Telling a vet, a West Point grad, after 3 tours in Afghanistan NOT TO STAND IN RESPECT FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I have no words.

[redgolum]

Tomlin will try to fire him

[TexasGator]

“Congress of the United States”

Who do you think set up the exemptions for the nfl ...

[EliRoom8]

>>“Tomlin should be fired.”<<

I wish!; but, alas, he’s a black man with a liberal SJW ownership.

[Edward.Fish]

>> Villaneuva played in college at West Point Military Academy...
>
> Listen writer. That's the United States Military Academy, which happens to be located at West Point.

Ah, I wouldn't give him foo much grief about it. If you were to say United States Military Academy average people would wonder which Military Academy*, by saying West Point [the location] he clarifies it to unambiguity.

* Because we tend to group Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines all under military.

[jeffersondem]

“Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team.”

The national anthem is not about respect for the game of football - its about respecting the nation’s flag and the Republic for which it stands.

At one time I was looking for 100 percent of NFL players to respect the national anthem. But that is not important to me anymore.

Today I’m more interested in sending a message of disapproval to the billionaire NFL team owners and their millionaire hirelings.

[Yaelle]

This is what makes hockey fans the BEST of any sport.

---

Definitely.

[al baby]

I am going to send Mr Villanueva a very generous gift certificate to Ruth Chriss in n the morning

[Eagles6]

So Mike, you're okay with your team members showing disrespect for the President by showing disrespect to our military members, our flag, the national anthem and the country?

Leave aside that it makes no sense...would it have been okay with you if your White players had shown similar disrespect to barry soetoro when he was in the WH?

[blueplum]

what?!?! The coach wanted to censure the free speech of a team member who is an active-duty officer of the US military? Say it ain’t so.

[MinuteGal]

"To be known ever afterward as the "Pittsburgh Kneelers."

You win my "FReepie Award of the Week" for the wittiest, cleverest and best-est post !

Congratulations, TTFlyer !

Leni/MinuteGal

[dhs12345]

Well eventually they are going to have to come out unless they plan to hide out forever.

[doug from upland]

[Ciexyz]

a true Profile in Courage. Trump should award him a medal. A Presidential Freedom medal or something.

[dhs12345]

Yes. He has to work with them not kill them.

[kearnyirish2]

These Simbas have no other job skills; they barely speak American (English that is coherent to Americans). Soon there will be a few thousand more “aspiring rappers”...