Broncos, Bills continue anthem protests

Sep 25, 2017 - 3:00 AM ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A majority of Denver Broncos players and about a dozen members of the Buffalo Bills demonstrated during the national anthem prior to Sunday's game at New Era Field in response to incendiary comments made by President Donald Trump at a rally in Alabama on Friday night.

Fans booed loudly while the Bills walked toward midfield together and linked arms before the anthem began.

On the Broncos sideline, Pro Bowlers Von Miller, Aqib Talib and Demaryius Thomas were among 32 players who kneeled during the anthem performance. Chris Harris Jr. and tight end Virgil Green raised their fists. Several Broncos coaches also kneeled, and some of the players who stood for the anthem placed a hand on the shoulder of players who kneeled.

"We felt like President Trump's speech was an assault on our most cherished right, our freedom of speech, and collectively we felt like we had to do something for this game," Miller said. "We couldn't just let things go. I have a huge respect for the military and our protective services and everything. I've been to Afghanistan. I met real live superheroes. It's not any disrespect to them. It was for my brothers that have been attacked for things that they do during the game, and I felt like I had to join them on it."

Buffalo's star running back LeSean McCoy, who criticized President Trump in a tweet on Saturday, sat on the turf and stretched during the anthem performance. Lorenzo Alexander, Marcell Dareus, Mike Tolbert, Jordan Matthews and Shareece Wright were among the players who kneeled.

"The flag and the national anthem means a lot to me and my teammates," McCoy said. "We had a long meeting Saturday night and I was very bothered by the comments of our president of this country. As a president, you are supposed to lead, you are supposed to bring us together, you are supposed to lead this country. I can't stand and support something where our leader of this country is acting like a jerk, angry and upset about NFL players protesting in a peaceful manner."

Denver's Vance Joseph, one of seven African-American coaches, stood for the anthem.

"I spoke to the team last night about what was going on in the league and it's their right," Joseph said.

In August, Joseph said anthem protests were "a personal preference."

"I believe in the anthem," Joseph said. "It's special on game day to stand, so that's me personally. But our players are grown men. I respect the fact that they have the freedom to protest."

Bills coach Sean McDermott joined in linking arms with the players.

"We just felt like it was the right thing to do," McDermott said.

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly stood with the players on his former team during the anthem and raised his left fist. Afterward, he sought out Dareus, who was inactive due to injury, and initiated a brief conversation that ended with a hug.