Prior to commenting that his players wouldn't be allowed to play if they disrespected the anthem, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thought controversy around protests during the song would "go away," he told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Jones had organized for the Cowboys to kneel together "in unity" prior to the anthem at their Week 3 Monday night game against the Arizona Cardinals, which he believed would solve any issues between players and fans.
After vice president Mike Pence made a point of leaving the Indianapolis Colts-San Francisco 49ers game after 23 players kneeled during the anthem, Jones felt the need to make another statement and answer questions on the subject after Sunday's game.
Jones clarified to Mortensen that no players will be exempt from his rule requiring them to stand for the anthem.
Head coach Jason Garrett said defensive ends David Irving and Damontre Moore, who raised their fists during the anthem on Sunday, will "absolutely not" be disciplined. Garrett also said that he had not spoken to Jones about the comments he made Sunday, though the owner told Mortensen that his head coach had been made aware of his feelings last season. Jones also said that the policy is not one he came up with on his own, rather citing policy from the game operations manual, which was pointed out to him by Donald Trump.
.@mortreport referencing @NFL game operations manual policy for national anthem on Monday Countdown. Here it is in full: pic.twitter.com/ifSMYuvOV9
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 9, 2017
Moore and Irving had been serving suspensions when the Cowboys displayed their show of unity, and Jones says "they were cutting it close" by raising their fists.
Jones maintains that his policy is in the best interest of the team and his players.
"I've always had our players' backs on issues I've been criticized for," said Jones. "My job is the Dallas Cowboys. It's in the best interests of the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL and the players ... to honor the flag."
