Instead of the situation of the national anthem vs. the NFL situation getting better, it appears to be getting much worse.
Josh Norman, cornerback with the Washington Redskins, openly threatened President Trump…. I think. The ebonics Norman was speaking made it difficult to interpret his meaning. For example, Norman declared, “I hope he don’t be around when I see him.” I tried for an hour to diagram that sentence, but got a headache and had to go to bed. But, I’m pretty sure it is a threat.
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Washington Redskins’ cornerback Josh Norman did not hold back when discussing President Donald Trump’s controversial statements regarding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.
“Just telling you right now, this man is not welcome here in Washington D.C.,” the former All-Pro defensive back told reporters following the Redskins’ win over the Oakland Raiders Sunday night.
“I hope he don’t be around when I see him,” Norman added.
Players from both Washington and Oakland joined with players around the leaguein demonstrating during the national anthem after Trump ‘s comments saying that NFL players who kneel during the anthem should be fired.
Trump sent out new tweets saying “#StandForTheAnthem” and that the issue “has nothing to do with race.”
At the white house Monday, spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying the president believes Americans should respect the flag.
“This should be something we can all get behind,” said Sanders.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired,'” Trump said during a rally in Alabama on Friday.
Norman called the statements “disrespectful” and “appalling.”
“How you call somebody an SOB,” Norman asked reporters. “How you call somebody that? That’s their right to do.”
Norman locked arms with teammates and Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder in a display of unity as the anthem was sung at FedEx Field. Norman said Trump made it “personal” by going after NFL players.
“Nobody is divided in this,” he said. “We was in unity, we wanted to stand for something.”
“You mess with one, you mess with us all,” Norman added.
The Redskins’ corner said he was especially mindful of the fact that young people look up to athletes like him.
“I think as a man in this country you have to stand for something,” he said.
The act of kneeling or raising a fist during the national anthem has drawn criticism from many and has been called disrespectful. Norman says that is not what his actions are about.
“I respect the office (of the President) , I respect the troops of America,” Norman told reporters. “My family fought in a war and like I said before, it’s not about the flag. It’s not. It’s not about anything like that. It’s not about black and white. It’s about what we are being faced with right now.”