Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

All of the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars players on the field stood during the national anthem before Thursday's preseason game, but four Jaguars players were not on the field while the song played.

Running backs Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Telvin Smith Sr. did not take the field until after the anthem finished.

"It's a personal thing and I don't want to get into it, but everyone has their own beliefs in certain things," said Fournette, an LSU and St. Augustine product.

The NFL and NFL Players Association are still working to find a compromise about how to handle players who wish to protest to raise awareness for racial injustices in the U.S. during the anthem. In May, the league adopted a policy that required all team personnel on the field to stand during the anthem. Players wishing to protest could stay in the locker room or off the field, but if someone chose not to stand on the field, he would face discipline.

This policy received significant backlash, and in July, the NFL and NFLPA announced that no new rules would be enforced with regards to the anthem until there was an agreement from both sides.

NOLA

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

For the NFL, it's best that all participants on the field stand. For the players who choose this avenue to have their voices heard, staying off the field really defeats that purpose. I support the players right of free speech. But, in the end, the avenue they chose simply overshadowed their message.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

James Baldwin wrote an excellent speech that still applies to this very moment in time.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

Where are the "concerned players" during the off season? I'm sure if they wanted to "raise awareness" for any subject there is a media outlet for it. Don't want to hear about "So and So" working "behind the scenes" and quietly doing "this and that". "So and So" needs to be Overt not Covert! Only fitting that there be "band wagon" players for "band wagon" fans!

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

Chicago is averaging 8 people shot a day for the year. Maybe stickers on their helmets to honor them? Roughly 2920 so they would have to be very tiny.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

Who cares. Why are we still talking about this. It’s not like any of you guys haven’t stopped by the beer and hot dog stand during the anthem.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

Who Cares is right.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

The American Dream and the American Negro

I suppose they all still apply though, because A Letter to My Nephew would suffice as well.

Re: Leonard Fournette amoung 4 Jaguars who stayed in tunnel during anthem
 

I care.
A significant number of other people care, also.
The TV ratings were affected last year, and the League is
working policy on this, so obviously somebody cares.

It matters to the players doing it.
It matters to many of their customers.