New York Giants Defensive End Olivier Vernon Again Knelt During the Anthem

Monday night was the Giants' plough to weigh in on the social justice chat that is shadowing the NFL this year.

Before kickoff of their Week 1 meeting confronting the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Giants players and coaches lined upwardly in the MetLife Stadium end zone to stand during the playing of Lift Every Voice and Sing. Some players even wore black T-shirts shirts that read "End Racism" during pregame warmups.

But during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner, the Giants sideline was staggered past some players and coaches who chose to take a knee joint and others who decided to stand.

"Nosotros had a squad meeting and we discussed that and we came to the decision to allow anybody do what they felt in their heart was the right thing to exercise," said quarterback Daniel Jones.

For the Giants and caput coach Joe Estimate, the players needed to have the right to determine how they chose to demonstrate their behavior during the playing of the national anthem, as the rest of the league has made it customary this year to express their stance on racial inequality in America this flavor.

"To me, the players have a choice," Judge said. "Nosotros talk about it as a team, we had a lot of conversations, we always do, we're very transparent as a team. I respect everybody in that locker room, and they respect each other, and that's what's of import."

"I'm proud of how our team handled it in terms of sticking together and not letting anything externally divide us."

The individual decision to stand or kneel was not the case for the Giants' opponent, still. Unlike the Giants, the Steelers player collectively stood, some with their fists in the air, and held a imprint that read "Steelers Against Racism."

Meanwhile, approximately 15-xx Giants players chose to kneel. These included rubber Jabrill Peppers, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, defensive lineman Leonard Williams, safety Julian Love and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, and exterior linebacker Lorenzo Carter.

"We came together, we talked about the situation and just decided that we're not going to put too much into it," Carter said. "Those three minutes or those two minutes really shouldn't be a lark for us, and Motorbus Judge fabricated information technology articulate that it's not going to be a distraction.

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"We only said, 'Exercise what's on your heart,' and that'south what was on my heart. Everything nosotros did was 18-carat and that's really information technology."

The majority of the Giants players stood during the national anthem, including Jones and running dorsum Saquon Barkley.

Despite standing, Barkley has been outspoken most his back up for the Black Lives Thing motility and fifty-fifty admitted that his father was once on the receiving finish of unwarranted police brutality.

"For me personally, I respect everyone that'due south kneeling and I respect everything that's going on," Barkley said. "I want to continue to fall back on what I'g doing in my community and endeavor to exist a leader in that aspect. Try to brand change that way. Anybody that kneeled or stands, I respect information technology all. I kind of simply did what I ordinarily do."

Monday night's game was non the kickoff instance of Giants players kneeling during the national anthem.

In 2017, 3 Giants players (defensive end Olivier Vernon, safety Landon Collins, defensive tackle Damon Harrison) knelt during the canticle before a Calendar week 3 contest at Lincoln Financial Field against the Eagles.

Giants co-owner John Mara recently expressed his desire to see all Giants players stand up during the national anthem in 2022 merely said he would support their decisions.

"My preference is that everybody stand up, but if yous decide in your conscience that you recollect taking a knee is the right matter to exercise, I'm gonna support your correct to do that," Mara said during a video press conference on September 3.

"Because I believe in the Kickoff Amendment, and I believe in the correct of people, especially players, to take a knee in silent protestation if that'due south what they desire to do."

• RELATED: John Mara Supports Players' Right to Peaceful Protests

The Giants take also launched the #TogetherBlue initiative to be proactive in the local New York and New Bailiwick of jersey communities to promote social justice and unite as one with the fan base.

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Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/news/new-york-giants-address-pre-game-anthem-choice