Philadelphia Eagles' Chris Long (56), Malcolm Jenkins (27) and Rodney McLeod (23) hold their fists up during the National Anthem before an NFL football game in November 2017. Jenkins did the same in Thursday night's game. | Matt Rourke/AP Photo Trump blasts NFL players for kneeling at preseason games 
 
 President Donald Trump blasted NFL players on Friday morning for protesting during the national anthem at preseason games, accusing them of being "unable to define" what they are protesting and suggesting the athletes should instead "be happy" and "be cool." 
 
 "The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the national anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love," Trump said in a tweet. 
 
 Story Continued Below 
 
 Trump's tweets came after some football players kneeled or showed other signs of protest during the national anthem at several preseason NFL games Thursday night. 
 
 "Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!" Trump said on Twitter. 
 
 Contrary to the president's claim, the NFL players who kneel for the national anthem have been vocal and specific about their protests, which began two seasons ago in opposition to racial injustice and police brutality. Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and some of his teammates wore t-shirts Thursday that said “more than 60% of prison populations are people of color” on the front and “nearly 5,000 kids are in adults prisons and jails” on the back, according to NBC Sports. 
 
 The NFL Players Association did not immediately return a request for comment. 
 
 The protests, which have grown over the past two seasons, sparked controversy and led NFL owners to approve a new policy in May that allows teams to fine players and other personnel who fail to stand during the national anthem. Players have the option to stay in the locker room during the song. Enforcement of that policy has been put on hold as the league negotiates with its players over the controversy. 
 
 Critics of the protest say players are disrespecting the American flag and national anthem when they protest during the song. But many protesting NFL players have argued that it is important to use their national platform to speak out against injustice, and that they have a right to free speech. 
 
 Jenkins and Eagles cornerback De'Vante Bausby raised their fists for the Star Spangled Banner Thursday night, according to the Associated Press. Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson kneeled for the anthem before their game. 
 
 Protests during the national anthem as an NFL-wide trend began years ago, sparked by then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the anthem. The 30-year-old athlete took a knee in 2016 to protest racial injustice in the U.S., including police brutality. 
 
 The president drew attention to the issue last year at a rally in Alabama, collectively labeling kneeling players as a "son of a bitch" and suggesting they be thrown out of the league. Trump's attention to the issue prompted significantly more players to protest, metastasizing the issue from a sports debate to a nationwide controversy. 
 
 Such protests also caught fire among other NFL players, and even college and high school athletes across the country. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who once conspicuously kept a "Make America Great Again" hat in his locker and who the president has joked could have been his son-in-law, praised the protests in an interview with Oprah Winfrey during the offseason, breaking with the president on the issue. 
 
 Kaepernick, a free agent who went unsigned and did not play in the league last season, tweeted his support for the players who protested on Thursday night. 
 
 “My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee,” Kaepernick said. “Albert Wilson joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!” ||||| Baltimore Ravens players, including former player Ray Lewis, second from right, kneel down during the playing of the U.S. national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at... (Associated Press) 
 
 NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the sports world reacting to President Donald Trump's remarks about pro football (all times Eastern): 
 
 9 p.m. 
 
 When you add up the numbers, about one in eight NFL players did not stand for the national anthem this weekend. 
 
 AP reporters and photographers counted the players kneeling or sitting at every NFL game Sunday. With one more game to go Monday night, already more than 200 players chose to protest. A handful of others raised their fists. 
 
 The league has 1,696 players on active rosters. 
 
 Last week, only six NFL players protested, continuing the movement started last year by former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 But President Donald Trump's comments and tweets saying protesting players should be fired sparked a massive show of defiance. Three teams stayed off the field for the anthems entirely. Other teams locked arms, with some players standing, some kneeling and some sitting. 
 
 ___ 
 
 5:20 p.m. 
 
 President Donald Trump has continued to express his displeasure on Twitter about how NFL players are choosing to kneel or sit for the national anthem before games. 
 
 In one tweet, Trump said that "Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad Ratings!" In another tweet, he says people "MUST honor and respect" the American flag. 
 
 About 150 players around the NFL sat, knelt or raised their fists in defiance during the league's early games. 
 
 In another tweet, Trump said the NHL champion Pittsburgh Penguins will be going to the White House f or a ceremony. Trump recently rescinded a White House invitation for Stephen Curry of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. 
 
 __ 
 
 4 p.m. 
 
 Meghan Linsey finished singing the national anthem before the Seattle Seahawks game at the Tennessee Titans, and then the runner-up in "The Voice" took a knee as she finished. So did the guitarist accompanying her. 
 
 At least 130 players around the NFL sat or knelt during the anthems in the early games. The Seahawks and Titans didn't come on the field until after Linsey finished singing. A handful of players stood outside the tunnel. 
 
 Earlier in Detroit, singer Rico Lavelle dropped to his right knee, bowed his head and raised his right fist wrapped around the microphone while finishing up his rendition of the national anthem before the Lions-Falcons game. 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker reported from Nashville, Tennessee 
 
 ___ 
 
 4:01 p.m. 
 
 President Donald Trump has continued to express his displeasure on Twitter about how NFL players are choosing to kneel or sit for the national anthem before games. 
 
 In one tweet, Trump said that "Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad Ratings!" In another tweet, he says people "MUST honor and respect" the American flag. 
 
 More than 130 players around the NFL sat, knelt or raised their fists in defiance during the league's early games. 
 
 In another tweet, Trump said the NHL champion Pittsburgh Penguins will be going to the White House for a ceremony. Trump recently rescinded a White House invitation for Stephen Curry of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. 
 
 ___ 
 
 3:50 p.m. 
 
 The Tennessee Titans are joining the Seattle Seahawks in deciding not to come out for the national anthem. 
 
 The Seahawks announced nearly 30 minutes before kickoff that they would not stand for the national anthem because they "will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country." 
 
 The Titans followed 10 minutes later by saying they will remain in the locker room during the national anthem. They posted a statement on their website noting they want to be unified as a team with the players deciding jointly that staying inside was the best course of action. 
 
 The team also said their commitment to the military and community is "resolute" and that "the absence of our team for the national anthem shouldn't be misconstrued as unpatriotic." 
 
 Seattle has been one of the more outspoken teams in professional sports on social issues, led by Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin. 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker reported from Nashville, Tennessee 
 
 ___ 
 
 3:40 p.m. 
 
 The Los Angeles Sparks did not participate in the national anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, joining a long list of protests being conducted on football fields across the NFL. 
 
 Moments before the Sparks and Minnesota Lynx were scheduled to line up for the national anthem, the Sparks left the floor. The Lynx stood arm-in-arm with each other while the anthem was performed. As soon as it was finished, the Sparks re-entered Williams Arena to a chorus of boos. 
 
 The gesture comes in solidarity with NFL players who either sat, took a knee or did not take the field for the anthem after President Donald Trump criticized football players for enacting such protests. At least 130 players were kneeling or sitting during the first NFL games. 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski reported from Minneapolis 
 
 ___ 
 
 2:55 p.m. 
 
 It appeared no drivers, crew or other team members participated in a protest during the national anthem to start the NASCAR Cup series race Sunday in Loudon, New Hampshire. Several team owners and executives had said they wouldn't want anyone in their organizations to protest. 
 
 Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt's longtime team owner, said of protesting, "It'll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus." 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 Richard Petty's sentiments took it a step further, saying: "Anybody that don't stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period. What got 'em where they're at? The United States." 
 
 When asked if a protester at Richard Petty Motorsports would be fired, he said, "You're right." 
 
 Another team owner Chip Ganassi says he supports Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's comments. Tomlin said before the Steelers played on Sunday that players would remain in the locker room and that "we're not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda." 
 
 ___ 
 
 1 p.m. 
 
 NFL players used the national anthem to show their defiance to President Donald Trump's criticism, with at least 100 players kneeling or sitting in protest and one team staying in the locker room. 
 
 Most teams in the early afternoon games locked arms in solidarity. At least three team owners joined their players. 
 
 More than 100 players sat or knelt, the form of protest started last season by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is now a free agent, and supporters believe teams have avoided signing him because of his protest. 
 
 The Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the locker room as the national anthem played before their game with the Chicago Bears. Coach Mike Tomlin stood by himself on the sideline. 
 
 How each team would observe the national anthem emerged as the center of attention on this NFL Sunday in the wake of Trump's critical remarks toward players who don't stand for the anthem. 
 
 Tomlin had said before the game that Pittsburgh's players would remain in the locker room and that "we're not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda." Tomlin added that the Steelers made this choice "not to be disrespectful to the anthem but to remove ourselves from this circumstance. People shouldn't have to choose." 
 
 ___ 
 
 12:12 p.m. 
 
 The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to stay in their locker room for the national anthem before their game against the Chicago Bears, coach Mike Tomlin has told CBS. 
 
 The move was apparently in reaction to President Donald Trump's suggestion that NFL owners fire players who kneel for the national anthem. 
 
 Several players from the Jaguars and Ravens decided to kneel in the first NFL game of the day in London. Then Tomlin said his players would not be on the sideline at Soldier Field in Chicago for the anthem. 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Jay Cohen reported from Chicago 
 
 ___ 
 
 12:13 p.m. 
 
 Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagilabue called President Donald Trump's comments on NFL players "insulting and disgraceful." 
 
 Tagliabue, who was in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a guest of Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, spoke to the media before Carolina's game against the New Orleans Saints. 
 
 "For me to single out any particular group of players and call them SOB's, to me, that is insulting and disgraceful," Tagliabue said. "So I think the players deserve credit for what they do. And when it comes to speech they are entitled to speak. And we are entitled to listen. We are entitled to agree or disagree. But we're not entitled to shut anybody's speech down. Sometimes you don't like what you hear and that is true in life in lots of contexts, but you can't shut people down and be disgraceful when you are doing it." 
 
 Richardson is not making a statement on the Trump's remarks, per team spokesman Steven Drummond. 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Steve Reed reported from Charlotte, North Carolina 
 
 ___ 
 
 11:45 a.m. 
 
 A handful of Miami Dolphins players are wearing black T-shirts supporting free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick during pregame warm-ups. 
 
 The shirts have "#IMWITHKAP" written in bold white lettering on the front. 
 
 Kaepernick was the first athlete to refuse to stand during the national anthem as a protest. This season, no team has signed him, and some supporters believe NFL owners are avoiding him because of the controversy. 
 
 Among the players sporting the shirts before their game against the New York Jets are wide receiver Kenny Stills, running back Jay Ajayi and offensive linemen Laremy Tunsil and Ja'Wuan James. Stills, also a team captain, posted a photo on Twitter of himself wearing the shirt , along with the post: "In case you didn't know!" 
 
 — AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey 
 
 ___ 
 
 11:02 a.m. 
 
 Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is defending President Donald Trump's attacks on football players who kneel during the national anthem. 
 
 Speaking on ABC's "This Week" Sunday morning, Mnuchin says the National Football League enforces other types of rules and Trump thinks "owners should have a rule that players should have to stand in respect for the national anthem." 
 
 Mnuchin adds that "they can do free speech on their own time." 
 
 Trump suggested during a speech Friday night that NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem. A handful of NFL players have refused to stand to protest several issues, including police brutality. 
 
 ___ 
 
 11:01 a.m. 
 
 The Pittsburgh Penguins say they've accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump to go to the White House after winning the Stanley Cup. 
 
 The Penguins released a statement Sunday saying they respect the office of the president and "the long tradition of championship teams visiting the White House." The Penguins were honored by Barack Obama after winning the Stanley Cup in 2016 and previously by George H.W. Bush in the early 1990s. 
 
 "Any agreement or disagreement with a president's politics, policies or agenda can be expressed in other ways. However, we very much respect the rights of other individuals and groups to express themselves as they see fit." 
 
 Trump revoked the White House invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors Saturday, after the team had said they might not accept. 
 
 —Stephen Whyno reporting from Washington 
 
 ___ 
 
 10:15 a.m. 
 
 Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says he "100 percent" supports his players' decision to kneel during the national anthem ahead of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley. 
 
 At least seven Ravens players and more than a dozen Jaguars players took a knee during the anthem while the rest of the players stood locked arm-in-arm in an apparent response to President Donald Trump, who said this week that NFL owners should fire those who disrespected the American flag. 
 
 But the Ravens issued a statement from Bisciotti minutes after kickoff, saying: "We recognize our players' influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 percent. All voices need to be heard. That's democracy in its highest form." 
 
 Jaguars owner Shad Khan stood arm-in-arm with his players during the anthem. 
 
 ___ 
 
 9:30 a.m. 
 
 About two dozen players, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before the start of the teams' game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. 
 
 Other players on one knee during the performance included Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley, wide receiver Mike Wallace and safety Lardarius Webb as well as Jaguars linebacker Dante Fowler, defensive tackle Calais Campbell, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. 
 
 Players on both teams and Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who were not kneeling, remained locked arm-in-arm throughout the playing of the national anthem and "God Save The Queen," the national anthem of Britain. 
 
 No players were kneeling during the playing of the British national anthem. 
 
 President Donald Trump had a suggestion on Saturday for National Football League owners whose players decide to take a knee during the national anthem: fire them. ||||| CLOSE After Donald Trump said NFL players should be fired for kneeling during the national anthem, NFL players, owners and coaches condemned Trump's comments. USA TODAY Sports 
 
 Jacksonville Jaguars players kneel down during the playing of the U.S. national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: Tim Ireland, AP) 
 
 What could be one of the most significant days in American sports history began in London. 
 
 Several players from the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars either knelt or locked arms on their respective sidelines in solidarity and against the words of President Trump during the national anthem at Wembley Stadium. Included among them was Jags owner Shahid Khan, who locked arms with tight end Mercedes Lewis and linebacker Telvin Smith in an unprecedented show of unity with his team. 
 
 Khan was one of seven owners to donate $1 million to President Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities. Khan later released a statement explaining his action: 
 
 “It was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for the playing of the U.S. national anthem at Wembley Stadium. I met with our team captains prior to the game to express my support for them, all NFL players and the league following the divisive and contentious remarks made by President Trump, and was honored to be arm in arm with them, their teammates and our coaches during our anthem. Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in many forms – race, faith, our views and our goals. We have a lot of work to do, and we can do it, but the comments by the President make it harder. That’s why it was important for us, and personally for me, to show the world that even if we may differ at times, we can and should be united in the effort to become better as people and a nation.” 
 
 Also kneeling with Baltimore was former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. And shortly after kickoff, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti released a statement: "We recognize our players' influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 percent. All voices need to be heard. That's democracy in its highest form." 
 
 More: Patriots owner Robert Kraft 'deeply disappointed by the tone' of Trump's comments 
 
 More: Trump: NFL should 'fire or suspend' players who kneel during anthem 
 
 This was the first of what figures to be protests at 13 more NFL games starting at 1 p.m, ET, in response to Trump saying Friday night that players should be fired for not standing during the anthem and in his terms disrespecting the flag. At a rally in Alabama, he said, "Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired!" 
 
 Members of the Ravens and Jaguars kneeled during the national anthem in response to Trump tweets including Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis. pic.twitter.com/fGrfIoRtdz — Jessie 🇰🇪 (@JMKTV) September 24, 2017 
 
 Players, commissioners and owners from multiple sports lashed out against the President over the weekend. The issue grew when Trump withdrew an invitation to the White House for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, specifically pointing to star Steph Curry. Later, the college basketball national champion North Carolina Tar Heels said they would not visit the White House, citing scheduling conflicts. 
 
 Trump has not backed down. On Sunday he said, "If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend! …NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S." ||||| The biggest message to come out of President Trump’s Friday rally in Alabama had nothing to do with its intended purpose of helping out Sen. Luther Strange. 
 
 The president urging NFL owners to “get that son of a bitch off the field right now” if any of their players take a knee during the national anthem immediately inflamed one of the biggest battles in America’s culture war. 
 
 Ever since then-San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee when the anthem played last season, Americans have argued fiercely on the merits of this particular brand of protest. 
 
 Conservatives have seen it as outrageous disrespect for the troops and the nation itself. Liberals and ESPN have portrayed it as a courageous act of defiance against racism and police brutality. 
 
 The debate hasn’t gone away this season, with more players participating in the protest while Kaepernick remains unemployed. 
 
 Trump has spent most of the weekend doubling down on his comments, as well as bringing the NBA into the matter, in the face of liberal outrage. The president’s opinion brought forth accusations that he was trying to take away the constitutional rights of Americans and that his sentiment was racist by nature. 
 
 In response to the president attacks, dozens of NFL players publicly criticized the president and joined in the anthem protests on Sunday. As one example, multiple players from both the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars took the knee while the anthem played during their game in London. Curiously, they all stood for “God Save the Queen.” 
 
 Several commentators, primarily from the Left, saw more players joining the protest as a major defeat for the president, but they’re off the mark. Folks like New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait think that Trump has turned the kneel into a free speech issue, which is going to naturally earn the sympathy of average Americans. 
 
 In reality, Trump has taken the side of the flag and provoked multi-millionaire athletes into opposing patriotism. When several players for the New England Patriots took a knee during the anthem on Sunday, their own fans booed them. So do fans of the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins when members of those respective teams knelt. (RELATED: Football Fans Boo Players Protesting National Anthem) 
 
 There are hardly two more liberal, anti-Trump areas in America than the Boston and D.C. metropolitan areas. Yet even football fans who live there can’t stand protests against the anthem. 
 
 Rather than earning sympathy for free speech, more players joining in the protest is more likely to alienate NFL fans from the game. Polling last year showed that an overwhelming majority of Americans thought that politics should be kept off the field. The number one reason for declining NFL ratings was due to national anthem protests, according to ESPN, of all places. 
 
 Hardcore Patriots fans booing their own team is not a good sign that the NFL is going to come out on top in its war with the president. 
 
 Trump’s involvement in the debate over national anthem protests shows him once again stepping into his kind of cultural war. No longer tied to religious or moral concerns, Trump’s forays into the culture war typically revolve around questions of national identity and pit middle Americans against various elites. 
 
 During his presidential campaign, Trump’s hardline views on immigration and the Muslim ban earned him unprecedented scorn from the media and political elites, but also support and votes from Republican voters. More recently, Trump faced a barrage of anger over his comments on the violence in Charlottesville, Va. where he blamed “both sides” and issued his support for Confederate statues. (RELATED: Trump’s Culture War) 
 
 Those statements earned him extreme opprobrium from political leaders in both parties, nearly all of Hollywood and the establishment media. Yet, polling showed a majority of Americans agreed with his comments, especially in regards to the statues. (RELATED: Poll: Clear Majority Want To Keep Confederate Statues) 
 
 In the fight over kneeling, Trump is facing off against out-of-touch athletes who appear to be opposing the flag and the troops. ESPN and most political pundits may think he is a dummy for engaging in this fight, but if NFL continues to lose fans over it, Trump will come out as the victor. 
 
 There is the other issue of whether the President of the United States should even be involving himself in such a matter, regardless of whether it will be to his advantage or not. In years past, the answer would have been a “no” to the question of whether it was presidential behavior. 
 
 But we increasingly expect our president to take sides in these cultural battles. Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama frequently weighed in on such topics as the name of the Redskins and Kaepernick taking a knee, albeit in a much more subdued manner. 
 
 Trump is embracing his status as an Oval Office cultural warrior to a much greater degree than Obama, for some good reason. His legislative agenda is almost entirely stalled, and he has little to show in terms of accomplishments for his base. In fact, the only thing he might accomplish legislatively this year is giving millions of illegal aliens legal status in exchange for nothing. 
 
 Fighting in the culture war on behalf of his base is the one area where Trump can do as he pleases. He doesn’t have to go through Congress to reduce the ratings of the NFL, he just needs a few tweets to do so. 
 
 At the same time, the culture is getting weaponized at unimaginable level against the president and his supporters by elites. Every awards show now resembles a Resistance rally where each speaker makes sure to bash Trump and red state America. Late night talk shows act more as venting chambers for liberal resentment than light-hearted comedy. A large number of celebrities dedicate their social media accounts almost entirely to politics and hating on Trump. 
 
 Last week saw a new height for our new, politicized culture. A bunch of Hollywood A-listers such as Morgan Freeman and Rob Reiner got together to promote an initiative to make the public believe Russia hacked the election and we’re at war with Vladimir Putin. (RELATED: Hollywood Liberals Team Up With Iraq War Hawks To ‘Protect Democracy’ Against Russia) 
 
 The GOP’s latest attempt to repeal Obamacare found its greatest foe not among the Democrats, but with late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel spent most of his opening monologues this week attacking Republicans for their bill and regurgitating talking points given to him by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. (RELATED: Chuck Schumer Coached Jimmy Kimmel Behind The Scenes On How To Oppose Obamacare Repeal) 
 
 The comic’s advocacy earned him plaudits from the media and he was able to get the message of the bill’s opponents out to the general public. It’s possible that the cultural elites’ intense rejection of the latest Obamacare repeal encouraged Arizona Sen. John McCain to say he would vote against it. 
 
 With the cultural elite declaring total war on Trump and his agenda thwarted in part by their efforts, Trump may have no other choice than to spend his term fighting various battles of the culture war. 
 
 His voters would probably prefer that option to a legislative agenda comprised entirely of amnesty for illegals and tax cuts for billionaires. 
 
 WATCH THIS: MAJORITY OF STEELERS PLAYERS REMAIN IN LOCKER ROOM DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM 
 
 WATCH DAILY CALLER BREAKDOWN THE NET-WORTH OF THE KNEELERS: 
 
 
 
 Follow Scott on Twitter and buy his new book, “No Campus for White Men.” ||||| SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- More than a year since San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid and former quarterback Colin Kaepernick first began kneeling during the national anthem as a silent protest of racial inequality in the United States, they believe that their original message has been lost in translation. 
 
 As nearly every team in the NFL had players participating in some form of protest on the heels of President Donald Trump's comments about NFL players kneeling during the anthem, Reid and Kaepernick wondered what would have happened had more players joined their cause sooner. Editor's Picks Broncos' Marshall says Kaepernick 'ready to go' Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall says he appreciates NFL teams supporting the rights of their players to protest during the national anthem. He also suggests they show it by giving Colin Kaepernick a job. 
 
 Sherman: Wilson had 'epiphany' over Trump Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman touted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson's reaction over President Donald Trump's criticism of NFL players who protest, saying it made him "incredibly proud." 
 
 Trump: NFL's biz 'going to hell' without changes President Donald Trump said Wednesday that protests during the national anthem will harm the NFL's business, saying he thinks the league is in "a really bad box." 2 Related 
 
 "He thinks that [the weekend's protest] was a direct response to, obviously, what the president said," Reid said. "He wishes that this many people were involved last year. I don't think the narrative would have went in as many directions as it went if we had more solidarity. We could have focused in on these issues, but we have got to be pragmatic about it. We have this opportunity now, and it's important that we discuss the issues and make changes." 
 
 After Trump made his initial comments Friday night, teams began releasing statements from their owners all day Saturday and devising different ways to voice their displeasure Sunday. 
 
 Some teams, including the Steelers, Seahawks and Titans, did not come out of the locker room for the national anthem, with Pittsburgh saying Monday that the goal was to avoid making a political statement, not an act of protest. 
 
 The Niners, who had already played Thursday night before Trump's Friday night comments, have had discussions about potential demonstrations before Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. 
 
 Coach Kyle Shanahan met with his team and leadership council Monday and said Wednesday the team intends to do "something together" this week, though they hadn't yet decided what form that will take. 
 
 Eric Reid, left, and Colin Kaepernick kneel in protest of racial inequality before a 49ers game last season. Reid believes the goal of Kaepernick's actions has been lost in the most recent anthem protests. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images 
 
 Many organizations opted to link arms, with some owners even joining the players and coaches on the field in a sign of unity. While players such as Reid and Arizona safety Antoine Bethea appreciated the team-focused protests, there was also some concern that those displays focused on unity had obscured the original protests' intent. 
 
 "Don't get me wrong, linking arms is a great thing," Bethea, who held up his right fist during the anthem while standing next to Kaepernick and Reid for some games last year, said. "We do want to be unified. At the end of the day, unity is going to help bring us together, but I do think that sometimes, you lose what the point [is] that people are trying to get across when people are taking that peaceful protest. I do believe that. 
 
 "It's a tough situation. It's kind of like a damned if you do, damned if you don't, you know what I'm saying? Trust me, it's a tough situation. This is a team sport, and, at times, you don't want to single yourself out and be that individual. But then you are fighting with the things of 'What do you really believe in?' ... Either way you look at it, there's going to be people praising you, and it's going to be people coming at you with a negative tone. That's what I've seen since last year." 
 
 Reid, who is currently dealing with a left knee injury and normally wouldn't be made available to speak while injured, talked to the Bay Area media for about 20 minutes Wednesday. In that discussion, he hit on a variety of topics and attempted to steer the conversation toward the issues that he and Kaepernick first wanted to address as well as what he hopes will come next. 
 
 Throughout the course of the session, Reid repeatedly referred to notes he had on his phone from friend Clint Smith, a writer, teacher and Ph.D. candidate at Harvard, who has focused his research on mass incarcerations, the sociology of racism and the history of inequality in the U.S. 
 
 Among the topics Reid specifically addressed were police brutality, social injustice, the bail system and the importance of local government elections, specifically with district attorneys. Along the way, he retraced the steps of inequality starting with the Great Depression through the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965, respectively. 
 
 Reid went on to point out that he believes making changes in the areas he and Kaepernick first started protesting starts with education on those topics, followed by conversations about them. 
 
 "I think these conversations make people uncomfortable, and I think that's a way for them to deflect from the issues that we really want to talk about and steer the narrative in a different direction," Reid said. "And so, my goal is to do a better job this time around of controlling the narrative, talking about the issues, which I hope we can talk about today and getting people to understand why we're doing it, because these issues are real." 
 
 Asked who he believes the leader for that movement is, Reid said Kaepernick is "without a doubt." Kaepernick remains unsigned after parting ways with the Niners in March but has continued his charitable donations and work in the community, such as his "Know Your Rights" camps. 
 
 Reid, along with teammates Marquise Goodwin and Dontae Johnson, will be featured in a video by racial justice group Color Of Change supporting Kaepernick. 
 
 One thing Kaepernick hasn't done is speak publicly since the end of the 2016 season, something Reid said he would like to see even if he doesn't know when that might happen. 
 
 "I have spoken to him a lot over the past couple of weeks, so I'm not sure," Reid said. "He hasn't given me an answer to that. I'll ask him again, but I'm hoping that he does say something." 
 
 From there, Reid is hoping that athletes from various sports can use their platforms to continue to push toward change on the actual issues rather than worrying about the methodology of protest. 
 
 When Reid and Kaepernick first began protesting last year, about 80 players began a group text exchange that allowed them to swap ideas on ways not only to protest but also to get into their communities and begin making a difference at a grassroots level. 
 
 According to Reid, that exchange became too much to handle for the players, but there is still open dialogue between players of all teams on a more individual basis. 
 
 Reid said he has been in touch with Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins about the work he has done with criminal justice reform, and the pair is trying to set up an event focusing on that in San Francisco in the near future. 
 
 Those are the small things Reid and Kaepernick are hoping can eventually add up to making a big impact, even if the results aren't instant. 
 
 "It's a long journey to get these issues corrected. Like I said, it's decades on top of decades, and to get things fixed is going to take a long time," Reid said. "It's going to take people that really care about the situation, take people that want to have these uncomfortable situations, so I hope we can move on. That's the next step, is moving on to making changes, and I hope that we can get some change out of that."
– Is it football season already? It must be, based on President Trump's tweets from Friday morning. After reports filtered out about some NFL players kneeling, raising their fists, and taking part in other forms of protest during preseason games on Thursday evening, Trump once more railed against those who did so. "The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem," Trump tweeted. "Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their 'outrage' at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love......" He continued in a second tweet: "Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway." And a final warning: "Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!" Politico and the Washington Post take issue with Trump's assertion that the players haven't been able to define what they're protesting, with Politico noting the players are pushing back against "racial injustice and police brutality." The Post goes even deeper, compiling very specific statements from the players themselves. In May, the NFL banned players from sitting or kneeling during the anthem, but that policy was put on hold in July and won't be enforced as the league and players union try to hash things out on the sidelines.