Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott defended his stance on the national anthem protests, in an interview published Aug. 1.
“I never said I didn’t believe in social injustice and things that were going on. I just said I didn’t think that the national anthem was the time. It’s two minutes out of our day that we could also be spending embracing what our country should be and what our country is going to be one day that we know that it’s not right now. That is the sad part about it. That it’s not,” said Prescott, via the Star-Telegram.
The comments come after earlier remarks on why he supports Cowboys owners Jerry Jones in obligating players not to participate in national anthem protests.
“As far as the Dallas Cowboys, you know where I stand, the team knows where I stand.” said Jerry Jones, according to July 25 tweets from Dallas Morning News reporter Jon Machota. “Our policy is you stand during the anthem, toe on the line.”
Prescott was asked whether he would join the national anthem protests, at a press conference on July 27.
“No I never protest. I never protest during the anthem and I don’t think that’s the time or the venue to do so,” said Prescott, via the Star-Telegram. “The game of football has always brought me such a peace and I think it does the same for a lot of people, a lot of people playing the game, a lot of people watching the game, a lot of people that have any impact of the game. So when you bring such a controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game, it takes away. It takes away from the joy and to the love that football brings a lot of people.”
Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott was also asked about his team’s feelings towards anthem protests later that day, during training camp.
“Us as a team, we chose to stand together for the national anthem. It was our decision. I think it just shows our culture. It shows that we have unity. We’re going to stand as one. That’s not knocking anyone else who may choose to kneel during the national anthem. But we’re the Dallas Football Cowboys, America’s Team. We stand for the national anthem.”
According to Forbes, the Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s most valuable team for 11 years running. The team is valued at $4.8 billion and tops the NFL in revenue from sponsorship deals. The team is also the world’s most valuable franchise among all sports.
From NTD.tv
