Posted on 09/25/2017 12:57:17 PM PDT by Red Badger
PHOENIX (105.3 THE FAN) – There is no easy answer. But In the wake of President Donald Trump calling for the firing of NFL players who opt for peaceful protest during the National Anthem, the Dallas Cowboys are at work crafting a singular answer.
“Our statement,’’ one team leader told me on the eve of tonight’s nationally-televised Cowboys-at-Cardinals game, “will be a statement of unity.’’
I’ve spoken to seven Cowboys leaders on the subject in the last 48 hours and come away with a handful of conclusions that the Cowboys – from owner Jerry Jones and his family to the players in the locker room – find important.
*There are certainly those in the organization offended by Trump 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. He’s fired!’’
Those offended include some individuals who may have supported, and still support, the president.
*There are certainly those who have sided with Colin Kaepernick from the start, in his efforts meant to bring attention to institutionalized mistreatment of people of color.
*At the same time, the Cowboys Leadership Council, made up of about 14 players, has long taken the position that “unity’’ and “positivity’’ are the themes that bond the football team … and themes that can bond beyond.
*The Leadership Council has engaged with the Jones family and its members, and now the rest of the locker room, are aware of Jerry’s views here, views he stated clearly on Aug. 22 on 105.3 The Fan with “Shan & RJ’’:
“I just feel so strongly that the act of recognizing the flag is a salute to our country and all of the people that have sacrificed so that we can have the liberties we have,” Jones said. “I feel very strongly that everyone should save that moment for the recognition of the flag in a positive way, so I like the way the Cowboys do it.”
*That in no way should be construed as Jones having “ordered’’ his players to stand, or having issued an “or-else’’ edict. (Worth noting: I don’t dismiss the idea of a player interpreting the combined wishes of Jones and the Leadership Council as an “or-else edict,’’ even though that’s not their intent.) Jones has clearly urged his players to use this moment to remain “respectful’’ … and it’s been made clear to me that his players are comfortable with that as long as “unity’’ is still expressed.
*That doesn’t mean Dallas feels the need to be in lock-step with the rest of the league. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFLPA and the 28 teams that played Sunday largely seemed on the same page regarding their employees/citizens’ right to peaceful protest. Goodell’s keyword-characterization of Trump’s attack on the NFL: “Divisive.” The Cowboys’ position, as is their right, will be their own — their collective own.
*I’m told the players have discussed the locking of arms during the Anthem.
*Numerous people involved tell me that the Joneses’ urging for a “respectful’’ Anthem moment comes with an offer: At any other time, at any other place, management is available to support a player’s cause. This falls in line with Jerry Jones’ well-chronicled “grandfatherly’’ backing of his players on a personal level.
*“We have an approach that we believe in,” coach Jason Garrett said the other day, a statement that some interpreted to be a non-statement but that in fact might be quite revealing as to the team’s plans – because the “approach’’ is to remain bonded, no matter what.
*Tonight, though it’s not the team’s plan, it’s possible a Cowboys player will do the same. If that happens, he will be within his rights, as will any player or person who chooses to keep his views out of the spotlight.
*The Cowboys players obviously know the general view espoused by Jones, who (contrary to anyone’s inflammatory claim) has not issued a directive but has voiced a perspective – which, of course, is within his right. He has, in fact, (contrary to anyone’s inflammatory claim) stated his perspective in the same thoughtful manner that players are stating theirs.
The owner has that right.
The players have that right.
Tonight, their wish is to put those rights on display … together.
Amen brother. I have been taught well by a navy man from the Greatest Generation, a half torn and worn 48 star American flag from his Distroyer Escort is on my wall, his grave is one you are referring too.
Oh, I hear you. I don’t watch Dallas. That spate of criminal crap all over the NFL, and in Dallas as well, was too much.
I went to strictly college football as many others did also, years ago and have never looked back. They have only gotten collectively worse now with this anti-flag, anti-American fascism. Pathetic. Easy to lose these pros for me. They were already gone.
They can’t fire them. They have a drug abuse policy which is not administrated by the owners.
Congress needs to remove their anti-trust exemptions.
“Congress needs to remove their anti-trust exemptions. “
And lose their free tickets?
Brother, I’m asking you to not pay these guys.
And for those saying that they do not, think about that quite carefully.
The NFL has a policy on everything else under the sun, including shoe laces, EXCEPT that?
Really?
Does that sound logical to you?
This is not the first time in NFL history that this has come up.
Agreed, I will not give them on thin dime. The last NFL game I went to Roger Staubach was QB and Tom Landry was coach.
It is now framed “the national anthem is racist”. If you don’t think that, go to a TV with ESPN on.
So, today, all sorts of discussions are being had in highschools and colleges about punting the anthem before they either have a riot or a lawsuit.
There ya go.
Bunch of folks dumping their Cowboy tickets on StubHub as we speak.
Wow, I sure was wrong about him!
ESPN? Lol! ESPN is a laughingstock! They can "frame" things all they want inside their shrinking Media bubble.
Out here in the land of objective reality, the People—overwhelmingly, including Blacks—know that such a narrative is "fake news", and nothing will ever change that.
This is yet another example of the Left and Media (but I repeat myself)—with their failed identity politics—grossly misjudging the sentiments of the American people.
The backlash is going to be fierce, and all the wailing and gnashing of teeth of the PC crowd will avail nothing.
The Revolution is on! President Trump has taken up the cause of the silent majority—forgotten working class of overwhelmingly decent Americans: White, Black, Hispanic, Men, and Women—and a tsunami of repudiation is massing against the "bubble boy" elites.
A b-tch slap of epic proportions is about to be administered to the Left.
Hopefully, things will remain relatively peaceful, but either way, the Swamp is steadily draining, and the Enemy is losing "big league"...
I stood by them at 1 and 15
They are DEAD to me.
First of all, I agree with your bolded statement.
A correction is coming. All the old scores are going to be settled.
However, most people don’t live in Objective Reality, they live in feelings. So when the media goes wall to wall that the anthem is racist, they are going to think “maybe it is”. The cowgirls just caved, and you will see teams on Saturday doing it now, and on Friday. So the schools are trying to formulate a plan.
Look, there was a lady who was screaming at a service dog, who then accused EVERYONE of being racist. If she hadn’t been filmed, the restaurant would have settled, the dog owner might have been sued, and everyone would have tip toed away. Reality was that the dog owner had a proper service dog (though that is getting abused), and was behaving in a proper manner. She just had a fit that anyone who lives in or visits a metro area has seen. She wanted “TO GET PAID!”
This is going to escalate. It is going to get ugly.
And you know what? I am kind of glad the NFL did it. I loved football. Some of my greatest memories with my Dad are over football. But the pampering of thugs has gone on long enough.
Burn it all to the ground, and I won’t shed a tear.
I think a lot of us are. We just paid a few million in Tax payers money, a couple of years ago, for a Cowboy’s NEW
stadium, and the super over paid football players with their owner, kneeled before the anthem, then stood for the anthem....with locked arms, What in hades did that stand for? I think it was chicken litter to placate the players who wanted to kneel during the anthem I hope in all of hades, they lose all of their conference games.
Jerry can take his $150 parking and shove it up his ass.
I haven’t heard about police being ambushed. What happened and who did it?
I haven’t heard about police being ambushed. What happened and who did it?
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