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Pittsburgh Steelers v Philadelphia Eagles

Source: Mitchell Leff / Getty

The official start of the season is still weeks away, but football fans are pretty happy to even have preseason games underway. As expected, national anthem protest are alive and well, with several NFL players taking a stance. Athletes took advantage of being temporarily free of facing punishment by the league for on-the-field activism, thanks to a moratorium agreement that is in effect until officials and the players’ association work out issues with the anthem policy.

Videos showed many of the players going the way of Kaepernick and kneeling, a protest the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback started in 2016. Other players raised fists, while some sat on the bench or didn’t leave locker rooms, CNN reported. The myriad protest maneuvers were public, with players showing that they are unapologetically sending a message to stop racial injustice and police brutality.

Two Philadelphia Eagles players — captain Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback De’Vante Bausby — protested by using their fists at a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were joined by Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett who walked out of the tunnel during the anthem and sat on the team’s bench, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.

Elsewhere, Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson knelt during the anthem ahead of their match-up against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Herald reported. Dolphins defensive end Robert Quinn raised his fist during the anthem, according to NBC-owned station WTVJ.

Several Jacksonville Jaguars — including Jalen Ramsey, Telvin Smith, Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon — didn’t go to the field as the anthem played ahead of their game against the New Orleans Saints, The Florida Times-Union reported.

President Trump saw players using their platform to ignite change and took to Twitter to give them a piece of his mind. “The NFL players are at it again – taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define,” he tweeted.

Trump Blasts NFL Players For Protesting During Preseason Games  was originally published on newsone.com