Sources: Cowboys to have pregame unity action
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Individually or collectively, members of the Dallas Cowboys are planning on making a unity statement before Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals in the wake of President Donald Trump's comments, but the exact details have not been worked out yet, according to multiple sources.
On Sunday, every team had some form of demonstration as a response to Trump saying owners should fire the players who disrespect the flag by not standing during the national anthem. Hundreds of players, coaches, executives and owners stood together arm in arm, sat, knelt, raised a fist or stayed in the locker room during the national anthem.
The Cowboys and the Cardinals are the last two teams to play in Week 3 and will be watched by millions of fans as well as those with the other 30 teams.
Sources said the Cowboys leadership council, which includes more than a dozen players, met Sunday night and then the Cowboys met as a team. No general consensus was reached during those meetings as to what they should or should not do. The subject was brought up at the Sunday night team meeting with the coaches.
Sources said players from both teams talked about joining arms together during the national anthem.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is expected to meet with the players before the game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Coach Jason Garrett has called the anthem "sacred," but he chose not to comment Saturday after Trump said at a rally in Alabama, "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now? Out! He's fired. He's fired!'"
Jones was one of seven NFL owners to donate to Trump's inauguration. So far the Cowboys have not released a statement on Jones' behalf; however, the NFL, the NFL Players Association and a number of teams and executives across the league issued statements calling Trump's comments, "divisive."
Since last year when the protests took a higher profile, the Cowboys have had every player stand for the national anthem without incident. Jones has said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, "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."
It is possible tonight that could change.
