Minnesota Vikings to lock arms during playing of national anthem
By Adam Patrick
As a sign to show team unity, the coaches and players of the Minnesota Vikings will reportedly lock arms during the national anthem prior to their Week 3 game.
September 24, 2017 is no ordinary Sunday in the world of NFL football. Following the recent comments from President Donald Trump, many around the league have plans to protest or show team unity during the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to their games this week.
As for the Minnesota Vikings, they will reportedly be locking arms during the national anthem on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
#Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes just told me they are planning to interlock arms during the anthem.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 24, 2017
It is possible that some members of the Vikings’ roster could take a knee during the anthem, but it seems as though the majority of the team’s players and coaches will be locking arms.
What Minnesota plans to do on Sunday is just one of the many methods in which teams around the NFL plan to express their feelings about Trump’s recent comments.
During the playing of the national anthem before Sunday’s early morning matchup in London, England between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars, members of both franchises could be seen either kneeling or locking arms with a coach or teammate.
The scene in London seconds before NFL Sunday kicks off on international stage. Some @Jaguars @Ravens #TakeTheKnee, others lock arms pic.twitter.com/IDILRvT30U
— Nick Giovanni (@NickGNews) September 24, 2017
According to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (former assistant with the Vikings), his team will not even be on the field on Sunday during the playing the national anthem.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reveals to @JamieErdahl that the team will not be participating in today's national anthem. pic.twitter.com/5zihPWQsMv
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 24, 2017
Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season will likely go down in history. Not necessarily for what happens during the games, but for what each franchise around the league will be doing during the national anthem before each of their matchups.
Agree or disagree with what is happening in the NFL this week, teams felt as though they had no other choice. The players of these franchises have a unique platform and the recent comments from the President has given them an opportunity to make a statement with their actions.
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