NFL stars JJ Watt and Baker Mayfield call out fans who criticized players who kneel during the national anthem
NFL stars have hit back against fans criticizing them for taking a knee in solidarity with George Floyd protesters during the national anthem.
Big names like Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and former Defensive Player of the Year, JJ Watt, have been voicing their plans to take a knee in the coming season.
The BLM protest of taking a knee was made famous by NFL players like San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who were slammed by Trump and other right-wing conservatives for "disrespecting the flag" in 2016.
Houston Texans defender Watt was quick to point out that kneeling in protest at police brutality and the lack of accountability for officers who commit murder has nothing to do with disrespect to the flag, the military or a lack of patriotism.
The 31-year-old responded to a troll's attack against his plans, tweeting "A) don’t speak for me
"B) if you still think it’s about disrespecting the flag or our military, you clearly haven’t been listening"
New Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has also made it clear he would back his players in any peaceful demonstrations after attending a peaceful protest last weekend and has encouraged his players to “get in the arena.”
Stefanski said: “My position is I want to make sure I support our players,”
“First things first, I want to make sure I sit down with them and talk.
"I can just promise you this, we will spend as much time as needed to make sure that we are all on the same page and we are a united front from a player, staff, you name it.”
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.