Seahawks Stand, Interlock Arms During National Anthem
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks locked arms and stood during the national anthem before Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Greg Bishop with Sports Illustrated posted images of the players standing side-by-side, in a planned "demonstration of unity."
Seahawks players lock arms as they said they would for national anthem. pic.twitter.com/l43UtisLkp
— Greg Bishop (@GregBishopSI) September 11, 2016
Seahawks show of unity in Seattle before Dolphins game. pic.twitter.com/6Nl6zY2iYD
— Greg Bishop (@GregBishopSI) September 11, 2016
Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Several Dolphins players took a knee during the national anthem. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Arian Foster, Jelani Jenkins, Kenny Stills and Michael Thomas all knelt down.
Dolphins players Arian Foster, Kenny Stills, Jelani Jenkins & Michael Thomas took a knee during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/KIW5J4UyLA
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) September 11, 2016
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin tweeted Thursday that the team "will honor the country and flag" in a "demonstration of unity" prior to Sunday's season opener against Miami.
To express a desire to bring people together, our team will honor the country and flag in a pregame demonstration of unity.
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) September 8, 2016
When approached in the locker room by reporters, Baldwin declined to elaborate further saying, "you'll see on Sunday."
According to the NFL's Ian Rapoport, the players planned to "kneel together, hand over their hearts." However, players close with the military objected.
#Seahawks originally planned to kneel together, hand over their hearts, during the anthem. But some players close with military objected
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 11, 2016
Former Green Beret and one-time Seahawks long-snapper Nate Boyer later tweeted that he had spoken with the Seahawks players about their plans and wrote, "what the team will do is a powerful sign of unification + respect for the Anthem + those that fight for our Freedom!"
Talked to the @Seahawks What the team will do is a powerful sign of unification + respect for the Anthem + those that fight for our Freedom!
— Nate Boyer (@NateBoyer37) September 8, 2016
In an interview with Fox Sports Radio later Thursday, Boyer expanded on his tweet .
"I spoke with the players, and they realize that 9/11 is a very important day in our nation's history. The Seahawks, and probably every team, will be honoring those who serve in camouflage, and also those in blue who served on such a difficult day," Boyer said. "Shortly after 9/11 our country seemed more unified than I had ever experienced, and was the most unified it has been since I have been alive. Since that date, we have grown farther apart in our unity. Standing together this Sunday is key to making progress. What the team will do is a powerful sign of unification."
Earlier in the week, it was reported that the team was considering some kind of protest on Sunday.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
