NFL Players Association head: No NFL players are disrespecting the flag

The executive director of the NFL Players Association said that no player is disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the national anthem.

The comments come after the owner of the Dallas Cowboys threatened to bench any players who are “disrespectful to the flag.”

NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith said in a statement Monday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and management council John Mara had promised in front of NFL owners that “they would respect the Constitutional rights of our members without retribution.”

{mosads}“No player is disrespecting our Country or our Flag. As thousands have shown in the past, it takes bravery and courage to speak and confront these issues as our players have, especially when it is unpopular with some,” Smith said.

Smith called for management to support players and speak out on issues so “players do not have to risk the taunts and threats alone.”

“I look forward to the day when everyone in Management can unite and truly embrace and articulate what the Flag stands for: ‘Liberty and Justice for All’ instead of some of them just talking about standing,” he said.

Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem last season to protest racial injustice.

Smith’s statement comes after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones warned that he would not allow players who are “disrespectful to the flag” to play.

“If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag then we will not play,” Jones said. “You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag then we won’t play. Period.”

President Trump began attacking NFL players who kneel during the anthem last month, reigniting the controversy.

Jones had knelt with his team on the field ahead of the national anthem after Trump’s comments calling for owners to fire players who participate in the protests.

Vice President Pence walked out of an Indianapolis Colts game Sunday after several San Francisco 49ers’ players kneeled during the anthem.