Jerry Jones Accused of Disrespecting Anthem at Cowboys Event
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been an adamantly against players taking a knee during the national anthem or disrespecting the flag.
But at a Cowboys practice on Monday, Jones showed disrespect by wearing a hat while a trumpeter played the anthem before practice.
It is protocol to remove one’s hat while standing for the playing of the national anthem.
Dallas sports anchor @dalehansen blasts Jerry Jones for wearing hat during national anthem 🇺🇸
➡️ https://t.co/tNzicpLVLY pic.twitter.com/d4fH8C3NBK— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) July 31, 2018
Jones is even told by his son, Stephen Jones, to take off his hat during the anthem. But Jones ignored the request.
A reporter for WFAA-TV in Dallas took Jones to task for not removing his hat.
https://twitter.com/BLASTography/status/1024011439915192320
“Jones loves and respects the national anthem so much that when it was being played before the start of practice Saturday, he left his cap on,” reporter Dale Hansen said in his video commentary, according to Yahoo Sports. “And when he was told about the mistake he was making, he still left his cap on. He who makes the rules, apparently doesn’t have to follow them.”
Last year, Jones said any player who disrespects the flag and doesn’t stand for the anthem will be benched.
So does Jerry Jones fire himself today for wearing his hat during the anthem even after his son tells him it's on?!?! 😤
— Bo Brandt (@uwbadgers2045) July 31, 2018
“If we are disrespecting the flag, then we won’t play. Period. Period,” Jones said last year, according to the Washington Post.
“We’re going to respect the flag. We cannot in the NFL, in any way, give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,” Jones also said last year. “We cannot do that.”
Last week, Jones made it team policy to stand for the flag and not sit in the locker room.
“Our policy is you stand during the anthem, toe on the line,” Jones said reported USA Today. “Our position is real clear: You should stand,” Jones added.
That was apparently all Jones wanted to say on the subject, because Sunday night he told KDFW-TV reporter Mike Doocy in advance that he didn’t want to talk about the national anthem.
.@MikeDoocyFox4 follows up on last night's non-interview with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, addressing the social media reaction and why he would make the same decision again. pic.twitter.com/jVzq9qAS5P
— FOX 4 Sports (@KDFWsports) July 30, 2018
So Doocy canceled the interview with Jones.
“I just felt like I couldn’t go through the interview at that point, and doing the interview while not asking him about that, I just couldn’t do that especially given the late warning I got in this case.”
After Jones’ comments last week, the NFL instructed all of the league’s owners to refrain from speaking about disciplinary action against players who protest the anthem. The league and the NFL Players Association are reportedly trying to come to an agreement on how to handle player protests this season.
“The league and the union are talking on this and we’re instructed to stand down while that’s ongoing. I’m not going to sit here and stir the pot,” Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown said.
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