There won’t be an issue with the Ravens and the national anthem this season.
The focus is fully on winning football games.
As a result, the players are ready to put the kneeling controversy behind them.
The NFL implemented a new policy this week requiring players to stand if they are on the field during the national anthem, but they were also given the option to remain in the locker room.
“My reaction to the policy is I’m all about the football policy and winning games on Sunday,” defensive tackle Brandon Williams said. “What every person on the team wants to do, I respect that. My biggest goal is just to win games on Sunday, and that’s all I worry about. I’m just going to stay out of the White House and worry about mine. This is what we do, just football.”
The Ravens did not offer any resistance to the new rules. The team is looking to end a three-year playoff drought.
“I wasn’t really too worried about it,” linebacker Matthew Judon said. “I’m going to go out there and do my job between the lines, and I’m going to follow the rules. I can’t hit with my head; they’re changing the kickoff. So, they’re changing a lot of rules. I’m just going to go along with them and be a part of this league.”
Players for other teams weren’t so ready to stay silent on the new rule.
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins is adamantly opposed to the new policy. He took to Twitter to voice his concerns.
#TheFightContinues pic.twitter.com/TX9IBDxRev
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) May 23, 2018
“What NFL owners did today was thwart the players’ constitutional rights to express themselves and use our platform to draw attention to social injustices like racial inequality in our country. Everyone loses when voices get stifled.
“While I disagree with this decision, I will not let it silence me or stop me from fighting. The national conversation around race in America that NFL players forced over the past 2 years will persist as we continue to use our voices, our time and our money to create a more fair and just criminal justice system, end police brutality and foster better educational and economic opportunities for communities of color and those struggling in this country.
“For me, this has never been about taking a knee, raising a fist or anyone’s patriotism but doing what we can to effect real change for real people. #thefightcontinues.”
The Ravens are not going down that road. Several players were asked about recent comments by President Donald Trump, saying players who don’t stand maybe “shouldn’t be in the country.”
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey didn’t take the bait when asked to respond.
“The owners are the owners, and the president is the president,” Humphrey said. “So, they’ll always have the right of way.”
The Ravens’ organization is obviously not tone deaf to the concerns of the fans after several players took a knee prior to the game in London last season. The players are ready to make sure no further distractions arise this season.
