Update: There is an update to this story. The Steelers decided to come out and not stay in the locker room. They ended up in the tunnel and were directly behind Mr. Villanueva in the tunnel. They hid in the tunnel. For his part, Mr. Villanueva didn’t realize he was out front and his team wasn’t right behind him.
Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is disappointed in one of his players. He told his team that whatever they wanted to do about the anthem was up to them but he wanted 100 percent participation in whatever they decided or nothing.
It was one player, former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva, who was the lone man to come out into the tunnel and stand for the anthem while his team stayed in the locker room. [Update: Mr. Villanueva now says coming out and standing for the anthem was a misunderstanding. He never meant to do that. He is embarrassed by it]
When asked by a reporter about Villanueva coming out for the anthem, Tomlin said, “Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team.”
Respect for our flag, our military, Mr. Villanueva’s service, and our country would have have been nicer. The players were showing tremendous disrespect for Mr. Villanueva who sacrificed so much for his country. [Update: Mr. Villanueva doesn’t see it as disrespectful]
“This team will not be divided by this,” Tomlin said emotionally.
Who is dividing it?
Coach Tomlin addressed the media following today’s game in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/rGsECe4g9G
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 24, 2017
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Villaneuva played in college at the United States Military Academy before going on to become an Army Ranger. He served three tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, before later joining the Steelers.
These football players are becoming part of the Trump Resistance, which is a hard-left political movement. This mass revolt against the country’s anthem was allegedly in response to the President saying he felt players who don’t stand for the anthem should be fired.
Tomlin called the times divisive. He is right. People showing such disrespect for the United States is very divisive. They obviously hate half their audience and the country.
The entire Steelers team stayed in the locker room for national anthem except for Villanueva who served 3 tours in Afghanistan.
A true hero pic.twitter.com/nnDsHrwym3— Rowdy Americans (@RowdyAmericans) September 24, 2017
Perhaps Tomlin prefers this immature jerk.
LeSean McCoy stretches during the national anthem. Video courtesy @JennaCottrell @WKBW @13WHAM #Bills pic.twitter.com/2tT4NmdoD8
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) September 24, 2017
wpDiscuz
