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NFL players protest, show unity during anthems

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  • By Around The NFL staff NFL.com
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Players on the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens sidelines linked arms and some took a knee during the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the start of Sunday's game at Wembley Stadium in London.

Terrell Suggs was among a group of Ravens players who took a knee during the national anthem, which included former Ravens great Ray Lewis. It appeared all the other players on the Baltimore Ravens' sideline locked arms while standing in a sign of solidarity -- coach John Harbaugh among them.

A large group of Jaguars players took a knee while many others stood and locked arms before the game, with team owner Shad Khan and coach Doug Marrone among them.

The sign of solidarity comes two days after President Trump stated at a political rally in Alabama that team owners should fire players who fail to stand for the national anthem prior to games. The NFL, NFL Players Association and league owners have issued responses to Trump's statements.


Here's what happened at other games on Sunday:

Raiders at Redskins

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that the Raiders' offensive line was planning to protest during the national anthem prior to Sunday night's game against the Redskins. It appeared the majority of the team sat and linked arms during the anthem.


Redskins players stood and linked arms for the anthem and were joined by team owner Daniel Snyder and president Bruce Allen.

Falcons at Lions


Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank locked arms with players during the national anthem prior to Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions.

Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford also linked arms with players and coaches prior to the game.

Giants at Eagles


Three Giants -- Landon Collins, Snacks Harrison and Olivier Vernon -- knelt for the national anthem, as their teammates and coaches linked arms before Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie stood beside Malcolm Jenkins, who raised his right fist.

Broncos at Bills


About half the Broncos players were kneeling during the anthem, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Von Miller and Demaryius Thomas were among them. Virgil Green had a fist raised.

Bills players walked onto field together, locked arms. A group of about a dozen Bills players took a knee, including LeSean McCoy. Other players put their hands on the shoulders of the kneeling players.

Texans at Patriots


A large group of Patriots players took a knee during the national anthem. Other members of Patriots were locked in arms, including Tom Brady, who had his hand over his heart and his other arm locked with Phillip Dorsett.

Texans players locked arms during the national anthem. In addition to the coaches, Texans general manager Rick Smith was among those locking arms before the game.

Browns at Colts


A large group of Browns players took a knee during the anthem while others arms locked in unity.

A group of Colts knelt during the national anthem, according to The Indianapolis Star. The rest of the team linked arms, including Vontae Davis, Frank Gore, T.Y. Hilton, and Andrew Luck.

Steelers at Bears


Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, OC Todd Haley and other coaches are on Steelers' sideline prior to national anthem. Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva was standing in front of the tunnel entrance before the game. No Steelers players were on the sideline.

On the other sideline, Bears players stood with arms locked and held hands.

Saints at Panthers


Panthers veteran Julius Peppers walked onto the field after the national anthem. The rest of the players stood on the sideline for the anthem.

Several Saints players sat during the anthem, including Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson.

Buccaneers at Vikings


Vikings team owners Mark and Zygi Wilf locked arms with players and coaches. General manager Rick Spielman joined them, too.

Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson kneeled in protest during the national anthem. The rest of the Bucs players stood next to one another with their arms locked on the sideline

Dolphins at Jets


At least four Dolphins players took a knee to protest during the national anthem, according to the Miami Herald. The rest of the players locked arms and were joined by team owner Stephen Ross and Dolphins coaches.

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson, flanked by quarterback Josh McCown and Jamal Adams to his left, locked arms in a show of solidarity with players. The rest of the team locked arms.

Seahawks at Titans


"As a team, we wanted to be unified in our actions today. The players jointly decided this was the best course of action," the Tennessee Titans said in a statement. "Our commitment to the military and our community is resolute and the absence of our team for the national anthem shouldn't be misconstrued as unpatriotic."

Chiefs at Chargers


Players and coaches on the Chargers were joined by owner Dean Spanos in a display of unity on the sideline before the game. A small group of players, took a knee and sat during the anthem.

Bengals at Packers


Bengals players locked arms and stood on the sideline during the national anthem.

Packers teammates Lance Kendricks, Martellus Bennett and Kevin King sat during the anthem as most of the players stood and locked arms.

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