Live blog: NFL response to Trump on Sunday

Some members of the Oakland Raiders kneel during the playing of the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Some members of the Oakland Raiders kneel during the playing of the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Live blog: NFL response to Trump on Sunday 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Sunday was a landmark day in American sports history, rife with protest and counterprotest. The response to earlier comments by President Trump, disparaging NFL players protesting the national anthem by calling them “sons of bitches” and demanding they be fired, began on Saturday. With a full slate of NFL games, one beginning early in the day in London, the response and conversation continued to escalate. Follow along as The Chronicle live blogs developments.

5:45 p.m. PDT

This from The Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick, who is at the Raiders’ game in Washington, D.C.:

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HYATTSVILLE, Md. — On the stage of Sunday night football, in the shadow of the nation’s capital, the Raiders made a bold statement before their game against Washington.

Many Oakland players — probably about half of those suited up, maybe more — sat on the bench during the national anthem. Most of those players locked arms.

Among the Raiders spotted sitting or kneeling: the entire offensive line, linebacker Bruce Irvin, defensive tackle Justin Ellis, safety Reggie Nelson and defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes.

A few Washington players kneeled, though most stood and locked arms during the anthem. Club owner Daniel Snyder also was part of the line.

The protest came in the wake of President Trump’s comments Friday night, in which he suggested team owners should immediately fire any “sons of bitches” who do not stand for the anthem. FedEx Field, the site of Sunday night’s game, is 15 miles from the White House.

Before this, running back Marshawn Lynch had been the only Raiders player not to stand during the national anthem. Lynch has not said whether he’s joining other pro athletes in protesting racial injustice.

Club owner Mark Davis previously had asked his players not to protest while wearing a Raiders uniform. In light of recent events, though, Davis amended his stance on the eve of Sunday night’s game.

“Over the last year, the streets have gotten hot and there has been a lot of static in the air and, recently, fuel has been added to the fire,” Davis told ESPN.com earlier in the day. “I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride.

“Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That’s the challenge in front of us as Americans and human beings.”

—Ron Kroichick

5:30 p.m. PDT

A large number of Raiders players sat, side-by-side, on the bench during the national anthem ahead of their game against the Redskins in Washington, D.C. Defensivve star Khalil Mack joined the group of Oakland players, who held hands during the anthem. Quarterback Derek Carr and head coach Jack Del Rio stood for the anthem. On the other sideline, the majority Redskin players stood arm-in-arm. A handlful kneeled, as well.

3:53 p.m. PDT

President Trump defended his position to the press. Here’s the AP report:

“President Donald Trump says his objection to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality “has nothing to do with race.”

Instead, Trump says it has to do with “respect for our country and respect for our flag.”

The president made these comments during an impromptu news conference as he boarded Air Force One to return to the nation’s capital. Trump says “our soldiers, our first responders” should be treated with respect.”

2:43 p.m. PDT

Former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, who was also a two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks, e-mails out the following statement on President Trump and his NBA and NFL comments:

"My entire life has been founded on the knowledge that sports is a model of what's best about America and about humanity: a model of discipline, aspiration, selflessness, and excellence.

"Those who would denigrate those values, who would use our shared love of the game to divide us, show a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes us great as a country, and as human beings - not to mention a fundamental misunderstanding of what sports is actually about.

"So many of us have gotten up before dawn for early morning practices, we've driven hours to our kids' games, and we've gone hoarse cheering for our favorite teams, all because we love these games that push us to be better, and that connect us in a way unlike any other to our teammates, neighbors, and fellow Americans.”

1:30 p.m. PDT

Some views being expressed in the NASCAR world. From an Associated Press report:

“Several team owners and executives had said they wouldn’t want anyone in their organizations to protest.

Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt’s longtime team owner, said of protesting, “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus.” Childress says he told his team that “anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America.”

Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty’s sentiments took it a step further, saying: “Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period. What got ’em where they’re at? The United States.””

Confederate flags are often visible at NASCAR events.

1:25 p.m. PDT

Via ESPN, a statement from former Stanford player Nneka Ogwumike on the Sparks decision to stay in the locker room during the anthem.

"We agreed on unity and solidarity," said Nneka Ogwumike, who is the president of the executive council of the players' union. "We were inspired by the message of Steelers coach [Mike Tomlin] earlier today. We wanted our team to stick together."

1:23 p.m. PDT

For the late games, several players continued the day-long protest. At the Chiefs-Chargers games, several players kneeled. On the Packers sideline, some players kneeled. Several linked arms.

1:10 p.m. PDT

Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson both take a knee during the national anthem.

1:06 p.m. PDT

The Titans and the Seahawks both stayed in the locker rooms during the anthem (where the singer took a knee at the end). They came out onto the field at the same time. The Seahawks gathered together in a circle and danced before kickoff - Pete Carroll included.

1 p.m. PDT

An update from Associated Press on the number of athletes protesting today:

“The Associated Press observed more than 130 players around the NFL kneeling or sitting during the national anthem in the league’s first nine games on Sunday morning and early afternoon.

The highest total was 35 protesters at the Denver at Buffalo game, while no one sat or knelt at the Pittsburgh at Chicago game, although the Steelers stayed in the tunnel.

Here’s a breakdown at each game, as observed by AP reporters:

— Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts: About 24.

— New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles: At least three (and three other players raising their fists).

— Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills: About 35, including Bills RB LeSean McCoy and about half of the Broncos’ roster.

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings: At least two, including Bucs WRs Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.

— Houston Texans at New England Patriots: About 16.

— Miami Dolphins at New York Jets: At least four, including Dolphins WR Kenny Stills and OT Laremy Tunsil.

— New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers: About 12, including Saints RB Adrian Peterson.

— Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions: About 10, including Lions RB Ameer Abdullah.

— Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears: The Steelers stayed in the tunnel, although Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva stood outside the tunnel with his hand over his heart.

— Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London: About 24, including Ravens LB Terrell Suggs and Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette.

Total: 130

The amount of protests around the NFL ballooned this weekend in the wake of President Donald Trump’s criticism of players who protest during the national anthem. Only four players were observed kneeling or sitting last weekend, and two others raised their fists.”

12:38 p.m. PDT

Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. celebrated his second touchdown of the day with a raised fist.

12:35 p.m. PDT

The Seattle Seahawks confirm they will stay in the locker room during the anthem, stating: “As a team we have decieded we will not participate in the national anthem. We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country. Out of love for our country and sacirifices made on our behalf, we unite to oppose those who would deny our most basic freedoms. We remain committed in continuing to work towards equality and justice for all.”

12:30 p.m. PDT

At the WNBA finals, the Los Angeles Sparks chose to stay in the locker room. The host Minnesota Lynx took the floor and stood with their arms interlocked. It was a reminder that WNBA players took a stand against police brutality and racism long before anyone in the NFL did. When the Sparks came out to the court, the crowd loudly booed them.

11:37 a.m. PDT

On the CBS halftime show, Boomer Esiason said “I think owners players coaches were totally insulted by the president’s words.”

11:30 a.m. PDT

Here are comments from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, made on Meet the Press:

“If the president's going to say something condemning a person, an industry, a sport, then he's got to be able to take the blowback that's going to come back..So LeBron [James] and Steph and any athlete, any owner, it's an open door now, and so they have every right for the same reasons to be able to say whatever’s on their mind. Now we'll be able to see if he can take it.”

11:25 a.m. PDT

Sports Illustrated reports that the Titans and Seahawks have been in discussions about both teams staying inside the locker rooms during the anthem, for the late game in Nashville and will issue a joint statement.

11:24 a.m. PDT

Another tweet from Trump (it seems like an odd day for the Penguins to accept this invitation):

“Please to inform that the Champion Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL will be joining me at the White House for Ceremony. Great team!”

11:20 a.m. PDT

The president tweeted again. He seems to be seeing something different than the rest of us.

“Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!”

As many noted on Twitter, locked arms is a sign of solidarity. Maybe Trump didn’t want to include his friend Tom Brady in his “sons of bitches” remark.

11:09 a.m. PDT

During the Raiders-Redskins game on Sunday night, the National Football League will re-air a televised advertisement promoting franchise unity. The ad, titled “Inside These Lines,” was originally produced for the Super Bowl.

"We think this is the single best response to demonstrate what we are about," a spokesman for the league told CNN, which first reported the news. "It stands in stark contrast to some who practice the politics of division."

10:53 a.m. PDT

Some comments from Teresa Kaepernick to Deadspin. After the president called players like her son Colin “sons of bitches” Teresa tweeted, “I guess that makes me a proud bitch.”

She had more to say to Deadspin:

“Rick and I had never been real political people, but prior to when all of the campaigning was going on, I mean, it didn’t take more than a minute to realize we didn’t want Donald Trump in the presidency. The guy is not all there, and I can’t tell you how shocked we were when he won, but we have been pretty vocal about it since long before Colin took a knee. So, we have some pretty strong feelings about that part of things. To see this man that you have no respect for, basically because of all that he’s done in this presidency so far, slandering my kid publicly ...

This is the third time from the podium—always at his rallies, never at a regular press conferences where someone questioned him. It’s always at his rallies, and he’s always pandering and playing to the crowd. There are a lot of racist people in that crowd, a lot of people that are just looking for something to get hyped about, and this is the kind of thing he does. It’s like a bully on a playground, I guess. It’s almost what I’ve come to expect from him and what most of us have come to expect from him. It’s disappointing though, and I’m kind of surprised that he went at the whole NFL the way that he did—not just Colin—because he does have so many friends in the NFL, as he said himself. So we’ll see what happens with that. I don’t know if anything will, but I thought it was a big mistake on his part. Just a terribly bad decision.

We didn’t watch his rally, I don’t watch rallies. He’s not playing to me anyway. But I saw on Twitter that he’d said it and I said to my husband, “What the heck,” and I looked to see what was said and I thought, “Aw man, this is just ridiculous that he continues to attack private citizens like this and continues to not be able to see what freedom of speech is and that he just refuses to acknowledge those kind of things.” Yet at the same time, in Charlottesville, he would not call out the Nazis, not call out the white supremacists, but he’s calling out these guys who are peacefully kneeling and asking for their country to do better.”

9:55 a.m. PDT

Anthems for the next eight games around the league are held and protests take place at every location. In New York, Dolphins players knelt and some wore shirts saying #I’mwithKap. In Detroit, there was audible booing directed at players taking a knee. Also in Detroit, anthem singer Rico Lavelle took a knee and raised a fist at the end of the song. The Falcons took a knee and owner Arthur Blank locked arms with his players. ESPN reported that during the anthem, a fan yelled “Stand up or move to Canada.” Booing could also be heard in Buffalo and in Indianapolis. In Buffalo, on the Broncos sideline players took knees, locked arms, or had arms around their teammates. LeSean McCoy, who blasted Trump in a tweet, stretched duirng the anthem.

The Giants and Eagles locked arms on their sideline. In Foxborough, Tom Brady locked arms with his teammates. Many of his teammates kneeled.

9:44 a.m. PDT

Terry Bradshaw, on FOX NFL Sunday, said players have the freedom to exercise their rights.

"This is America. If our country stands for anything, folks, it's freedom. People died for that freedom. I'm not sure if our President understands those rights. That every American has the right to speak out also to protest. Believe me, these athletes do love our this great country of ours. Personally, I think our President should concentrate on North Korea and healthcare rather than ripping into athletes and the NFL."

9:38 a.m. PDT

The NFL Network reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers will stay in their locker room during the anthem.

“We’re not going to play politics,” Coach Mike Tomlin told CBS before the game. “We’re football players, we’re football coaches. We’re not participating in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, but to remove ourselves from this circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t have to be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn’t be separated from his teammate who chooses not to. So we’re not participating today.”

When the anthem played Tomlin stood alone on the Steelers sideline. Former Army Ranger and Steelers OT Alejandro Villanueva stood outside the tunnel alone during the national anthem.

9:06 a.m. PDT

Paul Guittierez of ESPN releases a comment he receives from Raiders owner Mark Davis.

“I just spoke with Raiders owner Mark Davis. He told me the following: “About a year ago, before our Tennessee game, I met with Derek Carr and Khalil Mack to ask their permission to have Tommie Smith light the torch for my father before the game in Mexico City. I explained to them that I was asking their permission because I had previously told them that I would prefer that they not protest while in the Raiders uniform. And should they have something to say, once their uniform was off, I might go up there with them. Over the last year, though, the streets have gotten hot and there has been a lot of static in the air and recently, fuel has been added to the fire. I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride. Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That’s the challenge in front of us as Americans and human beings.”

9 a.m. PDT

CBS’ NFL Today spends the first half hour of it’s show on the topic.

Among the comments, Charles Barkley: “The president should never use the word SOB. I’m embarrassed. It hurts me those ignorant folks in Alabama would applaud something so stupid.

We as players have to figure out what to do next. We’ve got to stop worryinga bout who’s kneeling. We can’t say stupid things on twitter, it only escalates it. Let’s not worry about who’s keeling.”

8:30 a.m. PDT

Rex Ryan, commented on ESPN.

“I’m pissed off, I’ll be honest with you,” Rex Ryan said on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. “I supported Donald Trump. When he asked me to introduce him at a rally in Buffalo, I did that. But I am reading these comments and it is appalling to me. And I am sure it is appalling to almost any citizen in our country. It should be. I mean, calling our players S.O.Bs and that kind of stuff, that is not the men that I know. The men I know in the locker room, I am proud to be associated with them in the locker room.“I apologize for being pissed off but that’s it. Right away I am associated with what Donald Trump stands for because I introduced him. I never signed up for that. I never wanted that.”

6:19 a.m. PDT

The first game of the day begins at Wembley Stadium in London, along with the first anthem. The Jacksonville Jaguars linked arms during the anthem and many players took a knee. Coach Doug Marrone and owner Shad Kahn also linked arms with players. Several of the Baltimore Ravens also took a knee, including linebacker Terrell Suggs and former Raven great Ray Lewis.

5 a.m. PDT

Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots and close friend of Trump, released a statement.

“I am proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities, Their efforts, both on and off the field, help bring people together and make our community stronger. There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics. I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together toward a common goal. Our players are intelligent, thoughtful and care deeply about our community and I support their right to peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful.”

3:44 a.m. PDT

The presdient started the day off with a pair of tweets, doubling down on his earlier criticism of the NFL.

“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!

“NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.”

Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: akillion@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annkillion