The Game called out The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott for what he said about NFL players protesting the national anthem. According to the quarterback, NFL games are for people to enjoy football, not to see players address sociopolitical issues.
“I don’t think that’s the time or the venue to do so,” said Prescott about protesting.
“The game of football has always brought me such a peace, and I think it does the same for a lot of other people, people playing the game, people watching the game and any people that have an impact on the game. So when you bring such a controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game, it takes away. It takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people,” he added.
Last week the Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said his entire team will have to stand for the anthem, and they can’t stay in the locker room, despite the NFL saying that was allowed.
“Our policy is that you stand at the anthem, toe on the line,” stated Jones.
And the Cowboys’ Vice President Stephen James doubled down on that comment and said players would lose their jobs if they protest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlzHOeunVcP/?hl=en&taken-by=losangelesconfidential
But Prescott said he would stand for the anthem whether he’d be playing for the Cowboys or not, because his decision is based on what he believes, not Jones’ new rule.
“I do exactly what I’m doing and what I stand by whether I was wearing the star or not, whether I was playing for Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones or any other owner,” he stated. “I believe in what I believe in and that’s that.”
After The Game caught wind of Prescott’s comments, he responded via Instagram, tagged him and brought up Donald Trump. He also called Prescott a coon.
“COONgratulations @_4dak,” wrote the rapper. “Might as well throw on that MAGA hat [@kaepernick7] #F—DonaldTrump.”
The topic on whether professional athletes should stand for the national anthem has been a hot debate since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee in 2016 to protest the injustice Black people face. And without a doubt, The Game’s message kept that back-and-forth going.
“The anthem ain’t part of the game, though,” one person wrote under his post. “I agree people are entitled to their opinion, and no one is obligated to stand up for or kneel down for something they don’t believe in. But protesting during the anthem has nothing to do with one’s ability to enjoy the game.”
“So basically what I’m getting from this, is that he is gonna keep his mouth shut so he can keep his job. House position,” wrote someone else. “It’s plenty of us over here fighting for our people, and you’re playing for the other side whilst looking like us. Playing yourself, baby.”
You can see the quarterback’s press conference below, as well as some Twitter comments.
Dak Prescott has to get to his second contract. He’s not messing that up over the anthem issue. However, he should have not said anything about the anthem. Just zip it Dak.
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) July 27, 2018
#DakPrescott I feel people don’t understand what Freedom of speech really means it means you have the right to speak your mind no matter how society views it Dam clearly said he’s aware but he doesn’t want to get his views mixed in with the sport he loves
— MacManMiller (@DAndreXMiller) July 29, 2018
Yet has no problem benefiting from when others took a knee or sat at a lunch counter or walked vs.busing -took abuse. So he can benefit – he just doesn’t have to actually earn it. Good to know. I guess they’re still are people out here that are just 3/5 of a man #DakPrescott 🖕🏾
— JoJo Love (@HearJoJo) July 29, 2018
