NASCAR, NFL fuel emotional debate after Trump criticizes protests

A day after Americans watching NFL games saw bended knees, linked arms and raised fists in response to President Donald Trump’s rebuke of athletes protesting during the national anthem, statements from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR spun the debate forward.

Americans are now arguing about whether they will watch the NFL at all and even wrangling over whether fantasy football players should get dropped from their rosters or given points for protesters.

Brady, the face of the Patriots and a Trump supporter, told a Boston sports radio show that he disagrees with what the president says about protesters, saying what makes a football team great is that “We’re all different.”

“I think everyone has the right to do whatever they want to do,” he said. “If you don’t agree, that is fine. You can voice your disagreement, I think that is great. It’s part of our democracy. As long as it is done in a peaceful, respectful way, that is what our country has been all about.”

Meanwhile, Earnhardt became the first high-profile member of the stock-car racing community to break from several NASCAR team owners who say the protests disrespect the nation, anthem and flag.

On Sunday, NFL players, coaches and team owners largely showed support for the protesters who have been opposing police brutality and racial inequality by bending knees or sitting down during the national anthems before football games since former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started it in the preseason last year. Jaguars owner Shahid Kahn, who is one of seven NFL owners to contribute at least $1 million to Trump’s inaugural celebration, locked arms with his players in a show of support for them.

Trump, who criticized the protesters in a speaking engagement in Alabama on Friday night and blasted them again in tweets on Saturday, continued tweeting his disdain on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva did his own thing on Monday. While his teammates remained in the locker room during the national anthem, the Army veteran stood just outside the players’ tunnel alone, hand over heart.

His jersey became the best selling one in the NFL by midday Monday.

In San Diego, Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s former chief of staff was among Villanueva’s new fans.

Villanueva has since said he “threw my teammates under the bus, unintentionally.”

“People that are taking a knee are not saying anything negative about the military, they’re not saying anything negative about the flag, they’re just trying to protest that there are some injustices in America,” Villanueva said.

On the other side of the spectrum Sunday was the NASCAR Cup series race Sunday in Loudon, New Hampshire, where no drivers or team members protested. Not a single one. And the league’s voices went even further as NASCAR team owners gave voice to the many Americans who were disgusted by the NFL protests.

Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt’s longtime team owner, said of protesting, “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus,” according to The Associated Press. Childress says he told his team that “anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America.”

Hall of Fame driver and team owner Richard Petty said “anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period.”

Trump praised the NASCAR community on Monday.

Just about half an hour later, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out in support of the protesters.

Later Monday, NASCAR issued this statement touting the sport’s respect for the national anthem, while acknowledging “the right to peacefully express one’s opinion.”

So now the issue has become even more nuanced. A beloved son of the NASCAR world, Earnhardt Jr., breaking from NASCAR owners, and Brady, a friend of Trump’s, breaking from Trump. Brady linked arms with teammates ahead of his game on Sunday.

Complicating matters further is Trump’s personal relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft released a statement on Sunday saying he was “deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments” made by Trump.

Trump seemed more supportive of his friend than of the protesters on Monday when he told reporters “I want him to do what he wants to do.”

Clearly this is a complicated subject.

As the nation continues to discuss the protests, all eyes will be on Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Here’s what Jones has said in the past about the protests.

“The forum of the NFL and the forum on television is a very significant thing,” said Jones in 2016. “I’m for it being used, in every way we can, to support the great contributors in our society – that is people that have supported America, and the flag. For anybody to use parts of that visibility to do otherwise is really disappointing. We strongly support the flag in every way — and the people that for generations have given it all up so that we can get out here.”

Where was the rest of the country heading into Monday nights game between the Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals? Here’s a look at the wide ranging discussion on social media.

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