The NFL has walked back its previously-implemented policy that would have required players to either stand for the national anthem or remain in the locker room, and some players capitalized on the opportunity to continue with the political demonstrations on Sunday.
Two Miami Dolphins players — wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson — took a knee during the national anthem before their game against the Tennessee Titans. Defensive end Robert Quinn raised his fist in the air.
Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson are kneeling during the national anthem in protest of social injustice and police brutality. Robert Quinn is raising a fist.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 9, 2018
Had the new policy the NFL unveiled back in May stuck, Stills and Wilson would have been subject to fines. However, the league put the policy on hold, and a report from Sunday indicated there is not expected to be a new one in place this season.
Stills is one of the players who has been outspoken in his support of Colin Kaepernick, who was the first NFL player to kneel during the anthem two seasons ago.
“If the NFL would have done something like Nike did — some type of campaign, explaining this whole situation, having his back, supporting us, supporting our First Amendment right — then this thing would be going in a whole different direction,” Stills said earlier in the week, per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “I think we’ve made progress but obviously we have a ways to go.”
Nike unveiled a new advertising campaign last week featuring Kaepernick, and several players have already come out in support of it.
