Days after Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made it clear that he wants his players to stand for the national anthem, running back Ezekiel Elliott weighed in on the latest development in a controversy that dates back two years. "Us as a team, we chose to stand together for the national anthem," Elliott said, via the Dallas Morning News. "It was our decision. I think it just shows our culture. It shows that we have unity. We're going to stand as one. That's not knocking anyone else who may choose to kneel during the national anthem. But we're the Dallas Football Cowboys, America's Team. We stand for the national anthem." Elliott's comments come a day after Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said during a radio interview that players should stand during the anthem "if they want to be a Dallas Cowboy." Elliott wasn't alone in his thinking; teammates Dak Prescott, Taco Charlton and Sean Lee all said they would be standing too. "I never protest," Prescott said. "I never protest during the anthem, and I don't think that's the time or the venue to do so. The game of football has always brought me such peace, and I think it does the same for a lot of people -- a lot of people playing the game, a lot of people watching the game, a lot of people who have any impact of the game -- so when you bring such controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game it takes away. It takes away from that, it takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people. "For me, I'm all about making a change and making a difference, and I think this whole kneeling and all of that was just about raising awareness and the fact that we're still talking about social injustice years later, I think we've gotten to that point. I think we've proved, we know the social injustice, I'm up for taking the next step whatever the next step may be for action and not just kneeling. I've always believed standing up for what I believe in, and that's what I'm going to continue to do." "He's the boss. That's above my pay grade," Charlton said. And Lee added: "I think I'm going to do what I've always done and stand. Obviously, I believe that there's social injustice that needs to change in this country that's very serious. But I also believe that I'm going to stand for the anthem, because I feel like I'm blessed to be an American, and I'm blessed to have two grandfathers who served." Last September, following league-wide player protests in response to President Donald Trump's comments, Jones took a knee and linked arms with his players prior to the national anthem in the Cowboys-Cardinals game, but he has since made it clear that he wants his players standing for the anthem. "If there is anything disrespecting the flag, then we will not play," Jones said last October. "Period. We're going to respect the flag and I'm going to create the perception of it. ... "We cannot in anyway give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag," he continued. "We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind, that the [NFL] and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag." Jones, who spoke to Trump about the anthem issues last season, did concede earlier this week that the president isn't helping things when he takes to Twitter to blast the NFL or offer his own anthem polices, calling such commentary "problematic" for the league, and adding, "Everybody would like for it to go away."<doc-sep>Gus Ruelas/Associated Press Running back Ezekiel Elliott told reporters Friday he believes the Dallas Cowboys' decision to stand for the national anthem is an example of the organization's "culture" and "unity." "Us as a team, we chose to stand together for the anthem," Elliott said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill Jr. "It was our decision. I think it just shows our culture. It shows that we have unity. We’re going to stand as one. But we’re the Dallas Football Cowboys. We stand for the national anthem." On Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said players on his team will not be allowed to stay in the locker room during the anthem, an option that was made available by virtue of May's new anthem policy, which has since been frozen as the NFL and NFLPA explore alternative solutions. "You know where I stand, our team knows where I stand. That is where we are," Jones said. "Our policy is you stand during the anthem, toe on the line." Speaking to reporters Friday, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins referred to Jones as a "bully" who acts with less regard for his players than Jeffrey Lurie. "I don't see Jeffrey as a bully like Jerry Jones is. Lucky for me, I don't play for the Cowboys," Jenkins said, per ESPN.com's Tim McManus. "Nor would I want to. I think it's unfortunate that you have owners like him that use his position to intimidate and intentionally thwart even the idea of his players thinking individually or having a voice about issues that affect their communities daily, which is unfortunate."<doc-sep>AP The Cowboys have 90 players on their roster. You could interview all 90, and none would have anything negative to say about owner Jerry Jones’ national anthem policy. Most are either looking to make the roster or seeking a next contract. Realistically, only two Cowboys’ opinions matter, and Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott both support Jones’ edict that the Cowboys stand for the anthem “toes on the line.” “Us as a team, we chose to stand together for the national anthem,” Elliott said. “It was our decision. I think it just shows our culture. It shows that we have unity. We’re going to stand as one. That’s not knocking anyone else who may choose to kneel during the national anthem. But we’re the Dallas Football Cowboys, America’s Team. We stand for the national anthem.” Elliott was asked about executive vice president Stephen Jones’ suggestion that the Cowboys will cut players who violate the team’s anthem policy. “Who is inferring? You or him? He said it? Next. I’m good,” Elliott said. Prescott was outspoken in his comments about the anthem Friday, asking for a “next step” that involved “action” to combat social injustice rather than players taking a knee. The Cowboys are one of the few teams never to have had a player protest during the national anthem.<doc-sep>
A drama-filled day at Cowboys training camp ended with a nightcap: running back Ezekiel Elliott standing in solidarity with quarterback Dak Prescott and team owner Jerry Jones over the national anthem. Elliott on Friday told reporters, including Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegran, that he, like Prescott, is on board with Jones' insistence that players stand for the anthem rather than kneel or sit. DEZ SOUNDS OFF: Former WR reacts to out-of-context Stephen Jones quote Zeke on the Cowboys’ anthem policy: "Us as a team, we chose to stand together for the anthem. It was our decision. I think it just shows our culture. It shows that we have unity. We’re going to stand as one. But we’re the Dallas Football Cowboys. We stand for the national anthem — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) July 28, 2018 Prescott told reporters Friday morning that the playing of the anthem prior to NFL games isn't "the time or the venue" to make a statement against police brutality and social injustice. "It takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people," Prescott told reporters, per the Star-Telegram. Jones this week repeated his demand that players stand for the anthem, "toe on the line." His statement drew praise Friday from President Donald Trump, who previously said players should be suspended without pay for protesting during the anthem. MORE: Eagles' Jenkins calls Trump a bully, criticizes owners In May, NFL owners, partly in response to pressure from Trump, approved a policy that would allow players to remain in the locker room during the anthem but require them to stand if they took the field. The players association announced in early July that it had filed a grievance in response. The league and the players announced jointly on July 19 that the policy was on hold. The statement came out after it was reported Dolphins owner Stephen Ross would force players to stand. Ross later tried to clarify his stance to say no decision had been reached. The league and the players association met Friday to discuss a resolution to the anthem issue. A brief joint statement did not indicate whether the sides made progress.