One of the biggest concerns some have had as the 2020 season draws near, is outside forces derailing what could be a magical season. One threat was whether or not owner Jerry Jones would impede on any of the Dallas Cowboys players from expressing themselves in the form of pregame peaceful protest.
As the club puts their finishing touches on training camp to turn their attention to next Sunday’s opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, it appears that despite Jones not talking about it on his recent radio appearances, he has conceded to give his players latitude to demonstrate how they feel, apparently including kneeling during the playing of the national anthem.
Quarterback Dak Prescott provided the first bit of insight. The club hasn’t agreed on any uniform action, but they are under the impression whatever they choose to do will be allowed by Jones, who in 2017 threatened release to any player who chose to kneel. At the time a second-year quarterback, Prescott received flack for speaking out against kneeling that season as well.
Prescott, who in the last several months has been outspoken about making and demanding change in regards to racial injustice and policy brutality, spoke to supporting teammates who chose to protest, via the Dallas Morning News.
“That’s what this country is about, the freedom to do that, the freedom to express yourself,” Prescott said. “We heard Mr. Jones talk about grace and sharing grace and having grace with players in what they want to do.
“If I had it my way, that’s exactly what we’d do is express ourselves individually but love and support one another collectively.”
Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Prescott’s statement in his daily press briefing.
“I think he expressed it very well. I thought he hit the nail right on the head & that’s the way we’ll move forward.” _ Mike McCarthy https://t.co/KVsDSznPrX
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) September 3, 2020
Later in the day, longtime defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford expressed more explicitly in his conference call with the media, saying the players were going to be allowed to move as they see fit in regards to how they show support on the field and help inspire the work off of it.
“We definitely have the green light on all that. But also just try to find something that is going to make a boom and not just something people look at one time and kinda just swipe by. And go like, Oh that’s great, the Cowboys did that and swipe by it. We want to do something that makes a boom and people remember and actually create some change.”
When asked to detail what they were given the green light on, Crawford replied, “Just whatever we are feeling to express how we feel and say what we want to say.”
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