The New Orleans Saints have settled on a plan for how to handle the national anthem before Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Quarterback Drew Brees announced on Twitter that the entire team will kneel before the anthem and then stand during the rendition of it. The Dallas Cowboys used the same method before their game last Monday.
Brees, coach Sean Payton, running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Cameron Jordan all expressed a desire to find a way to show unity while also displaying a protest in some form with regards to the racial inequality in the U.S.
Drew Brees ✔ @drewbrees
As a way to show respect to all, our #Saints team will kneel in solidarity prior to the national anthem & stand together during the anthem.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-09-29T10:04:10+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: September 29, 2017 10:04:10 (UTC)">6:04 AM - Sep 29, 2017</time>
Brees' announcement on Friday morning from England followed much backlash back home with regards to the protest. Gov. John Bel Edwards said he'd like the team to find another way to protest, and the Republican Party of St. Tammany Parish called on Saints owner Tom Benson to require players to stand during the anthem. Other lawmakers said this week they wanted to pull state funding to the team, though Edwards said Louisiana couldn't take committed funds from the Saints because of objections to the protests.
Edwards also said he thought kneeling before the anthem as the Cowboys did would be a more appropriate method of protest. Coach Sean Payton said Friday the players' decision came without influence from owner Tom Benson.
"Players spent some time on it, and that's what they came up with," Payton said after practice.
Before last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, 10 Saints players sat during the anthem as they joined a growing number of men around the NFL who protested after President Donald Trump last Friday chastised players who sat during the song.
New Orleans Saints to discuss 'organized plan' for peaceful protest
Running back Mark Ingram says team is looking for ways to unify
Jordan had indicated Wednesday that he would continue to sit, saying, "It's sort of clear and defined where I have to be," when asked directly if he planned to sit again. However, it was clear the Saints wanted to find a way to ensure all players treated the anthem the same way.
"I'm sure as a team and as an organization here, we'll have a more organized plan," Payton said on Thursday.
The Saints play at Wembley Stadium in London at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
Quarterback Drew Brees announced on Twitter that the entire team will kneel before the anthem and then stand during the rendition of it. The Dallas Cowboys used the same method before their game last Monday.
Brees, coach Sean Payton, running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Cameron Jordan all expressed a desire to find a way to show unity while also displaying a protest in some form with regards to the racial inequality in the U.S.
Drew Brees ✔ @drewbrees
As a way to show respect to all, our #Saints team will kneel in solidarity prior to the national anthem & stand together during the anthem.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-09-29T10:04:10+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: September 29, 2017 10:04:10 (UTC)">6:04 AM - Sep 29, 2017</time>
Brees' announcement on Friday morning from England followed much backlash back home with regards to the protest. Gov. John Bel Edwards said he'd like the team to find another way to protest, and the Republican Party of St. Tammany Parish called on Saints owner Tom Benson to require players to stand during the anthem. Other lawmakers said this week they wanted to pull state funding to the team, though Edwards said Louisiana couldn't take committed funds from the Saints because of objections to the protests.
Edwards also said he thought kneeling before the anthem as the Cowboys did would be a more appropriate method of protest. Coach Sean Payton said Friday the players' decision came without influence from owner Tom Benson.
"Players spent some time on it, and that's what they came up with," Payton said after practice.
Before last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, 10 Saints players sat during the anthem as they joined a growing number of men around the NFL who protested after President Donald Trump last Friday chastised players who sat during the song.
New Orleans Saints to discuss 'organized plan' for peaceful protest
Running back Mark Ingram says team is looking for ways to unify
Jordan had indicated Wednesday that he would continue to sit, saying, "It's sort of clear and defined where I have to be," when asked directly if he planned to sit again. However, it was clear the Saints wanted to find a way to ensure all players treated the anthem the same way.
"I'm sure as a team and as an organization here, we'll have a more organized plan," Payton said on Thursday.
The Saints play at Wembley Stadium in London at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
