Jets lock arms, four Dolphins kneel during anthem

Sep 25, 2017 - 12:16 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Both the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, save five Miami players, stood locking arms for the singing of the national anthem by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

In a show of solidarity with the players, both owners -- the Jets' Christopher Johnson and the Dolphins' Stephen Ross -- stood with their respective teams.

Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil, safety Maurice Smith, tight end Julius Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills all knelt during the anthem, with wide receiver Jarvis Landry standing between them.

"I want to support my teammates the best that I can," said Miami quarterback Jay Cutler after the game, a 20-6 Jets win. "I'd do anything for those guys in there even though I've only been here a month or so. They give us everything they can out there. Off the field, I want to help and support them any way they need it."

Johnson said after the game that he asked each player on his team, individually, if he could stand with them, and they all agreed.

"I was incredibly honored," Johnson said. "The team decided to do that before I got there, and I just asked if I could join them."

Johnson locked arms with quarterback Josh McCown and rookie safety Jamal Adams.

Johnson's older brother, Woody, was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom in the NFL offseason, leading to Christopher Johnson taking over as the day-to-day operator of the Jets.

The Jets sent out a statement not long after kickoff, on behalf of Johnson, stating, in part: "We are very proud of our players and their strong commitment to work in our community to make a positive, constructive, and unifying impact."

General manager Mike Maccagnan also stood amongst the Jets.

"Social issues are going to be there until the end of time," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said, "so it's not a burden. You understand what's happened. Our team is socially aware. You have to be blind to not see what's going on."

Ross, the 77-year-old owner of the Dolphins, put out a statement condemning Trump's statements on Saturday, then stood squarely in the middle of his team on Sunday.

Several Miami players, including running back Jay Ajayi, also wore black T-shirts during pregame warmups saying "#IMWITHKAP" in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was the first player to kneel during the national anthem and is currently a free agent.