Lions, Falcons join pregame protests around league

Sep 25, 2017 - 4:04 AM DETROIT -- Detroit Lions players had not participated in national anthem protests before Sunday, but President Donald Trump's comments regarding the issue changed all that.

Defensive lineman Akeem Spence was one of eight Lions players who took a knee during the anthem to protest Trump's comments that NFL players should be "fired" by their owners if they don't stand up for the anthem.

"It's crazy and it's wrong," Spence said. "It shouldn't be like that. We're hard-working people who give back to the community. Our owners are the same way. They have the utmost respect for us and we have the utmost respect for our country, our flag and everything like that. For our head guy (Trump) to say something like that, about our owners and what they should do, oh man, right is right, wrong is wrong."

The eight kneeling Lions players also included defensive linemen Cornelius Washington, A'Shawn Robinson and Jeremiah Ledbetter, linebackers Tahir Whitehead, Steve Longa and Jalen Reeves-Maybin; and running back Ameer Abdullah.

Many other Lions players interlocked arms, including quarterback Matthew Stafford. Owner Martha Firestone Ford joined the peaceful protest, locking arms with coach Jim Caldwell and safety Glover Quin during the anthem.

"We came together to make a statement," Spence said. "Nobody is taking that stuff. It's wrong. That shouldn't be accepted in the country from nobody."

There was a smattering of boos from the crowd, apparently in reaction to some players taking a knee.

Falcons defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe also knelt during the anthem while many of their other players stood with the arms locked together in unity.

"My spirit moved me," Jarrett said. "It was on my mind. Definitely something that was so awesome because having the support of your brothers and the support of our organization like this, it's truly a blessing."

Jarrett felt it was the right thing to do before and afterward.

"I felt good about it, no doubt," he said. "It's just so much we put into this game. People around the country love to watch us play and the heart we give. We had an opportunity to show how we really felt."

Ford issued a statement on Sunday morning denouncing Trump's statements.

"Negative and disrespectful comments suggesting otherwise are contrary to the founding principles of our country, and we do not support those comments or opinions," the statement read in part.

Team president Ron Wood said to the media before the game it was important to show support for the team's players.

"It's unfortunate that we're talking about that and not football today," he said. "We put a statement out. I know our players, they're great guys, great members of the community and have a great work ethic every day. Just wanted to get something out to support them."

Falcons owner Arthur Blank criticized Trump's comments in a statement on Saturday.

"Creating division or demonizing viewpoints that are different than our own accomplishes nothing positive and undermines our collective ability to achieve the ideals of our democracy," it read in part.