Steelers stay off field during anthem
Pittsburgh Steelers players stand in the tunnel during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks around the field as players warm up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CHICAGO – In light of President Donald Trump’s comments Friday at a speech in Alabama regarding players kneeling for the national anthem, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a different approach Sunday before their game at Solider Field against the Chicago Bears.
Instead of kneeling on the sideline, standing with arms interlocked or raising a fist in the air as other teams or players have done, the Steelers stayed in the tunnel leading to the field during the signing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, an Army veteran, stood at the edge of the field, his teammates behind him.
The players eran onto the field soon after opera singer Wilbur Pauley completed the anthem. Several Chicago players locked arms during the singing, while others stood with their hands over their heart.
Head coach Mike Tomlin told CBS Sports that it was not a decision made lightly and is not rooted in any kind of protest.
“For us, it’s about remaining solid,” Tomlin said. “We’re not going to be divided by anything said by anyone. That’s the thing I posed to our guys, ‘If you feel the need to do anything, I’m going to be supportive of that. As Americans, we have that right. But whatever we do, we’re going to do it 100 percent and we’re going to do it together.”
Earlier in the day, Jacksonville and Baltimore played in London and both teams had a sideline response to Trump’s statements regarding players kneeling during the anthem.
Jacksonville’s players and owner Shad Khan locked arms, while Baltimore’s players knelt as a group.
That came two days after Trump told a crowd that NFL owners should take a harder stance against players who kneel during the anthem, as currently unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick did throughout the 2016 season to protest what he said was racial inequality in this country. Other players have followed suit, including several members of the Cleveland Browns this season.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘get that son of a bitch off the field right now – he’s fired,'” Trump said.
The NFL and several owners responded in disagreement to Trump’s message.
Tomlin said his team’s decision is not politically motivated.
“We’re not participating in the anthem not to protest, but to remove ourselves from the circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go through his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t have to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn’t be separated from his teammates who choose not to.”
The issue is a touchy one for the Steelers, who have not had a player show any form of protest during the anthem. Villanueva is a decorated Army veteran who served three tours in Afghanistan.