The Dallas Cowboys team captain addressed the controversial NFL protests from training camp on Friday. With team owner Jerry Jones recently stating that his players will stand for the National Anthem despite the NFL’s withdraw of the policy banning the sideline protests, Dak Prescott seems to be taking the side of his team owner on the issue.
“I don’t think that’s the time or the venue to do so,” the 2017 Rookie of the year told reporters. “The game of football has always brought me such a peace and I think it does the same for a lot of other people, people playing the game, people watching the game and any people that have an impact on the game. So when you bring such a controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game, it takes away. It takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people.”
The former Mississippi State QB did, in fact, participate in a team protest last season after President Trump infamously referred to NFL players who protest as “son’s of bitches.” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also participated in the protest.
The Game took aim at Prescott on Instagram over his comments on the protests saying, “COONgratulations [Dak Prescott]. Might as well throw on the MAGA hat.” Former NFL cornerback Antonio Cromartie chimed in on Game’s comments saying, “This fool sound so stupid. Saying this because he doesn’t want to lose his endorsement deals.”
The topic of NFL protests has been highly controversial and divisive on whether or not players should protest. Last season, President Trump essentially pitted his supporters against any players who protest demanding that NFL owners fire any player who kneels.
The NFL initially made a rule that would’ve fined any NFL player who didn’t stand for the National Anthem, but after seeing some of the team rules that came as a result, specifically with the Miami Dolphins who could’ve suspended players for 4 games for kneeling, the league decided to put the rule on hold.
The protests were started in 2016 by former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick who has is currently a free agent. Many fans and Kaepernick himself believe that the 2018 GQ Citizen of the Year is being blackballed by the NFL to which Kaep filed a lawsuit against the league for colluding to keep him from being signed.