Jerry Jones gives Cowboys players ultimatum: Honor the flag or take a seat on the bench

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday any player who disrespects the flag will not play.

Jones’ comments, the strongest made on the anthem controversy, came after he was asked about Vice President Mike Pence leaving the game in Indianapolis early after several San Francisco 49ers players took a knee during the national anthem.

"I know this, we cannot ... in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag," he said following the Cowboys’ 35-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers. "We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. So we're clear."

Dallas players have stood on the sideline, many with hands over their hearts, during the anthem ever since former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling last season in protest of what he believed were instances of racial injustice in the U.S.

Jones said showing respect for the flag and the anthem is more important to him than any potential issues of team unity.

Additionally, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he changed his view on how his team should handle the national anthem. Ross said because Trump made standing for the national anthem about “patriotism,” he evolved the way he looks at the protest, according to the Miami Herald.

Ross now wants all of the Dolphins players to stand for the anthem. Three Dolphins players – Kenny Stills, Julian Thomas and Michael Thomas – remained off to the sideline during the anthem Sunday.

The NFL has said the game operations manual distributed to teams includes a reference to players standing for the anthem, but that it's a policy and not a rule. The league has said it doesn't plan to punish players over anthem protests.

"The league in mind should absolutely take the rules we've got on the books and make sure that we do not give the perception that we're disrespecting the flag," Jones said.

I suspect, like has become rampant across America

those in 'charge' have no idea about the rules they are supposed to be enforcing or not, and use authority for their personal stuff instead

maybe jones should go into politics if that is his PRIORITY, instead of sports..

freezing immigrants, targeting immigrants, targeting muslims, and now forcing 'displays' of patriotism,,,,

crazy times.

IMO it is part of the job. JJ is the owner. It is a business. They are in uniform and on the job. They can protest on their own time. I don't know any job where you can protest and get paid while in the company uniform.

The business can lose money because of it. They make their money from fans (viewers, tickets, merchandise) and from sponsors

People say it's not about the flag or anthem but a protest. So if it isn't about the anthem or flag, no one is forcing them to do it. It is about not protesting on the clock.

Celebrity or not, they get paid to do a job. Their celebrity status can get attention if the protest outside of the uniform

it is worth noting that there are few jobs that are 24/7 like 'celebrities' and athletes,, there is no such thing as 'own time' for them, as anything that is visible is conceivably regarded as part of the job,,,so if one is in that position, How DO they take advantage of what should be every Americans right to choose their display of patriotism, or to protest for that matter?

Take a knee...Pop a knee...instant Karma.

the divider-in-chief asked his caddy what club he should
use on the par-5 hole...

the caddy replied...what difference
would my opinion matter, when the only
clubs you have in your golf bag are wedges...

as far as JJones and his ultimatum, i hope that EVERY
cowboy player (and for that matter every nfl player) takes
a knee in solidarity next sunday and calls this fools bluff..

Dear NFL...If I'm going to watch people on their knees...I'll watch Porn.

being a pro atlelet is not 24/7. They have plenty of their own time with their families and friends.

I had a professional hockey player living a few houses down from me and nobody bothered him.

They also have ample time to voice their personal options from any venue other then work.. do they?

Have you seen any of these kneelers doing the same in a park.. at their house or calling for news meeting where that they may have to foot the bill for... I haven't

But when they are at work.. and it is their work.. that's what they get paid for. They choose to then make their point.

We all have rights, but at work you abide by the rules that are in place when you join the company. If you don't like the rules in place.. don't join

Nobody twisted their arms to play football. The honor of the flag was well in place when every single one of them joined the teams. everyone of them. Not one had a issue then.. not one.

These people are now protesting... what?... what are they actually protecting?.. nobody even knows anymore.

It all PC B/S

Lets check back with them in 5 years or so, bet most would dress as Uncle Sam at a used car lot to make a buck.

In my opinion there's a time and place for everything...maybe they should just do their job..and when you consider how much money maybe they should just buy a podium buy some air space and voice their opinion.

There are a lot of things wrong in this world that we don't agree with..pick one and then TAKE A KNEE ....at work..

Money is JJ's "prioity".

Football is Big Bidness.

i worked 27 years for a company that had rules about
my behavior in public places and social media while
wearing my uniform and breaking those rules were
just cause for my termination...

not once in those 27 years did my employer require me to
attend any company function (patriotic or otherwise) in
uniform and dictate my behavior at those functions...

the simple solution for the nfl, is to change their rule
requiring players to be on the field during PRE-GAME
patriotic festivities and allow those who choose not
to participate to remain in the locker-room until the
game of football starts...that is what they are paid to do,
they aren't being paid to adopt their *owners* personal view
of what is or is not proper patriotism...

I don't view standing for the national anthem as an adoption as any employers view ..but a show of pride and unity for the country in which we live..I never knew it stood for my employers view because there are so many employers and so many views..so which ones should we be thinking about as we hold our hands over our hearts. I suppose it comes down to whatever twist people try to put on it.

But an employers view is the farthest from my mind and well yea..that just don't work for me..

But you're right in one way maybe the NFL should start setting standards ..since people can't seem to learn patriotism on their own...

I believe the whole debate is whether the display is actually something that is their 'job'. IT has nothing to do with playing football, and as it is a display of patriotism loses its significance when it becomes a MANDATE instead of an option.

that is like saying people cant 'learn' love, it is an ideal, and a symbol that different people find different meaning in and express in different ways.

maybe i clouded the important point i'm trying to make..

give the employee the option to NOT participate and if
he CHOOSES to be part of the patriotic display and if then, his
actions are deemed disrespectful then he should expect
to be disciplined by being benched or fined or terminated
if the owner chooses to...of that, i have no problem...

NFL players do not have that option...their presence is
a forced requirement...and now a certain type forced behavior
is also being required ...

if they object, allow them to remain in the locker-room until
it is time for them to do what they are being paid to do,
which is play football and nothing else...

It's just a few minutes to show our respect and unity for our country.
Not a lot to ask for what our country has done for ALL of us.
Nothing else.

your COUNTRY is not a living thing, it does NOTHING, its a symbol and an ideal

PEOPLE do things for other people and we dont mandate people respect any PERSON by standing at attention for them.

The flag is a symbol of patriotism, but how one 'respects' it should not be a mandate if they are not doing something blatant like cursing or flipping it the bird.

You can 'respect' your country(whatever that is to you) by giving your countrymen the RIGHT to display their patriotism THEIR OWN WAY.

Yea, right on.

display your patriotism by being unpatriotic... you sure have a way with words...

who gets to define for EVERYONE what being 'patriotic' means or what it is supposed to look like?

and who gets to mandate anyone be 'patriotic' to a country when people continue to be excused in their inhumanity and dismissal of each other/fellow countrymen?