Posted on 09/24/2017 6:43:28 PM PDT by 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])
WATCH:
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.
This can get ugly. If the vet wanted to stand and salute the flag, then he has just as much right to do so as those that do not. If the league wishes for those desiring to support the flag and anthem to not be allowed to do it, then we have a real problem with the law at that point. The league or the team is suppressing his first amendment rights and is in line for a federal suit that will have the player owning the Steelers before it’s over. And he won’t need ice packs or lidocaine. Just a lawyer and a trip to the Supreme Court at some point.
I am overjoyed this has happened as it will now put the shoe on the other foot and make the league and the players held responsible for their actions. Then we’ll see how many of them still kneel while a real hero stands next to them. They will look small just like they are.
rwood
He is the only one who deserves to be on the team.
God
Family
Country
Business/Job
Other interests
makes me wonder how many players were willing participants if this was a dictate from above...
He just signed a four year Contract with the steelers in May 2017 for $24 Million..has a wife and young son.
I urge everyone to goggle him name and read his History...Yes our POTUS should give him a Medal of Honor. for the young man certainly has earned it.
Would make quite a statement if fans of other teams started showing up in Villanueva jerseys....
I liked Mike Tomlin but my brother did not. Never understood his reasoning, but maybe he sensed something that I did not.
I am through with the Steelers. Maybe I will reconsider next year if there is an NFL and if it has repented.
I do not watch football or any sports only to be insulted because I am a captive audience. Who wants to pay to be insulted?
Yes, but on top of that if they had a great product they wouldn’t care. They’ve been morphing into touch football for years, sporting causes du jour like breast cancer while hiring domestic abusers and dog-fighting participants...
The players kneeling etc. are Useful Idiots. Low IQ types manipulated into thinkinv it’s a good thing. Behind the scenes pulling their strings are communists. It’s a basic communist tactic. Sure smells like them. It’s what they do.
Trump knows this, and is one reason why he chose this particular battle.
Imho only.
Pittsburgh vs Chicago, Pittsburg 7 point favorite final Vegas odds.
Final score Chicago 23, Pittsburg 17
It’s called Karma Tomlin, suck on it.
I’m gonna play devils’ advocate and no, I’m not a Steelers’ fan: I think Tomlin might be one of MANY people in the NFL that hate this stupid, disrespectful distraction that Kaepernick has wrought.
The article says that Tomlin himself stood respectfully for the anthem.
I think there are a lot of people AFRAID to open their mouths which is EXACTLY the way the American Left wants it.
Perhaps he feared that one decent patriot on his team might cause dissent.....
OK, advocate hat off, f-k the NFL....
Bravo to Chicago!
Being right is not often popular or majority.
Agreed. There is a tremendous amount of hate coming from the Left these days. Followed with violence.
The rule ought to be that anyone who doesn’t want to stand for the anthem must return to the locker room for its playing.
Everyone else can stay.
Anyone that kneels should have to wear a black helmet during the game.
Better yet if a third party not affiliated with the NFL printed plain white t-shirts with his number on it.
Let’s not give another dime to the NFL, even via licensed jersey sales.
Anti trust laws broke up AT&T. They can break up the NFL.
how do you do a trademark?
......................................
You would probably want to consult an attorney in this case because you may be infringing on NFL rights but a clever attorney may suggest a way around it and still obtain a trademark.
Relatively speaking they are not expensive. I think if you were ambitious about it and came up with a tee shirt it could be a big seller on ebay or similar sites. I’m not that social network savvy I just think it is a very clever name and maybe worth some money if pursued when the iron is hot which is right now.
https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-getting-started/trademark-process
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