Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said President Donald Trump was "complimentary" of the team's kneel-then-stand national anthem protest compromise during a brief phone conversation on Tuesday.

But Jones said Friday that Trump had no influence on the team's approach before Monday night's game at the Arizona Cardinals, and he said he kept his relationship with the president separate from the overall issue.

"It doesn't mean that we acquiesced to anything (Trump) was implying," Jones said in a radio interview with 103.5 The Fan in Dallas. "What we did was exclusive from that. We wanted to make a statement and certainly not dishonor the flag."

Trump tweeted Wednesday, "Spoke to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. ... Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. Players will stand for Country!"

Jones sought to further clarify his phone conversation with Trump.

"The implication that there was some kind of pat on the back or anything like that is really not the case," Jones said in the radio interview. "It was a simple discussion. I know him. I've known him for several years. We have in common a big interest in football and sport."

Jones added of his relationship with Trump, "There are many things we don't agree on."

Jones did agree with Trump's assessment of the NFL being in a "box" with the kneeling/standing debate.

"There's no easy answer here," Jones said. "There are some situations here where you can't do both. You've gotta draw the line. And the interpretation of what you're doing when we draw that line is really controversial, debatable. What are you saying? A lot of times you can't clearly articulate what you're saying."

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Although passionate about players standing for the anthem and saying he felt it was "madness to think someone would dishonor the flag," Jones strongly denied the notion that he demanded players follow a specific agenda.

"I want everybody to know I ask the players for anything that I suggest we do," Jones said. "A-S-K. Not tell."

Jones kept quiet about the Cowboys' plans for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.

"I won't get into any plan, but certainly the recognition of the flag, respect to the flag is the No. 1 thing," Jones said. "I'm gonna say it one more time. The flag is first."

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