Most of the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to abstain from taking part in the National Anthem on Sunday and now a local flag football team with the same name has decided to stage a protest of their own.

The Steelers, a 7th/8th grade division team in the highly popular 9-11 Memorial Flag Football League, have unanimously decided to change their name after five seasons because the team and their parents vehemently disagree with the NFL club's decision.

In fact, prior to their next game Sunday, the team will have a ceremony in which they'll be laying down their Steelers jerseys at the 50-yard line.

Lou Gelormino, who coaches the team along with Anthony Loscalzo and Chris Flaherty, said the team and parents were in unison in making the decision. He also said they have the support of the league, including president Mike Fidanza.

"After seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers refuse to come out of the locker room, the parents and myself were completely disgusted by that act and we talked to our kids and they no longer want to play as the 'Steelers' because they've disrespected the National Anthem, as well as the men and women who fought to protect this country,'' said Gelormino. "I think it should be known that we respect everyone's right to protest (in an appropriate way) and now we ask that everyone respect our right to protest also.''

Gelormino has always disagreed with that form of protest which, of course, started last year when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner to protest racial injustice.

But Gelormino says it's been taken to a whole new level after what the Pittsburgh Steelers did at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday.

For the record, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and head coach Mike Tomlin said the decision to stay in the tunnel was because there was indecision on whether to stand or take a knee in Chicago.

Whatever was decided, it was important for the team that it was done together and ultimately, they did decide the best avenue was to just stay inside during the National Anthem, according to Roethlisberger and Tomlin.

Gelormino and the local Steelers, and their families, couldn't disagree more.

"For the two minutes the National Anthem is played, it should be a time of unity, to bring people in this country together,'' he said. "It's a time to respect what we all believe in and, in unity, a time to support America.

"We've had the Steelers name for years and that act has us all disgusted. We felt the need to do something,'' added Gelormino, who praised Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva for not following in the footsteps of his teammates in Chicago Sunday. "You want to link arms, that's an action that shows unity. But to further divide America in a way I've never seen before is unacceptable.

"It's completely polarizing America.''

Gelormino's team plays at 4 p.m. Sunday at Tottenville High School in Huguenot. He said in lieu of their soon-to-be discarded jerseys, they'll be wearing special T-Shirts for this week only that read 'God Bless America' on the front and 'Respect, Honor, Duty and Unity' on the back.

He said he welcomes any other individuals who want to get rid of their NFL jerseys for the same cause.

"Every one of the kids are supportive of what we decided to do,'' Gelormino said. "The parents have spoke to them and they understand the significance of what they've decided to do.

"In fact, half of the kids have cops or firemen as parents.''

Gelormino said the team will not replace 'Steelers' with another NFL team. Instead, they will be named after the United States Military Academy, or West Point, and the league is planning on buying the new jerseys for them.

The 10-man team includes Robert Reilly, Ryan Flaherty, Devin Malvasio, Frank Esposito, Christian Monahan, Anthony Vergona, Anthony Loscalzo, Ryan Rocchio, Angelo Indellicatti and Louis Gelormino.

In addition, the parents are donating $1,000 to The Wounded Veterans Fund.

"We want something positive to come out of all this,'' Gelormino said.