Even more transparent and stupid is this sudden shift to arm-linking as a sign of team unity against Trump, who had the temerity to point out that insulting the anthem and the flag was offensive. That also happens to be arm-linking against the fans who feel the same way, and that turns out to be a significant majority.
What to do now? Well, the smart thing to do is drop the whole thing and pretend it never happened, was "misunderstood" (although we understood it perfectly well), was anything other than what it really was. And shut up. What are they actually doing? Doubling down, of course. Sucker's game.
Agree. And the arm-linking and whatever other variations on the theme they may try as an alternative to kneeling are just as disrespectful if they are done during the anthem, because that is what they are intended to be.
Standing quietly, arms at the side, or preferably saluting the flag are the only two postures that signify respect during the national anthem. Anything else - disrespect. Because that is exactly why they do it.