Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan sided with NFL stars after criticism from Donald Trump
The FOX NFL Sunday crew were left furious after Donald Trump criticised NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem, leading to the President revoking the Philadelphia Eagles' White House invite
The FOX NFL Sunday crew, including Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan, passionately defended NFL players who took a knee during the national anthem in response to scathing criticism from Donald Trump.
The controversy reached its peak when Trump revoked the Philadelphia Eagles' invitation to the White House after their Super Bowl victory in 2018.
The movement, initiated by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, saw numerous NFL players kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. This followed Kaepernick's involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement, which aimed to raise awareness about high-profile cases of African Americans dying in police-related incidents.
Since then, Kaepernick's attorney has appeared on an anti-Trump podcast. "I am not going to get up to show pride in a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick explained at the time.
As the weeks went by in 2016, more players joined him in kneeling, and the trend continued throughout the 2017 season. After taking office, Trump expressed his outrage at the players during a press conference, which sparked widespread controversy.
Trump's fiery comment at an NFL game, demanding owners to dismiss players who protest during the anthem, made headlines. 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!'"
This remark spurred a reaction from icons of the sport. American football legend and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw criticized the then-President, suggesting Trump might not grasp the full extent of NFL players' constitutional freedoms.
He eloquently defended their rights, stating, "This is America. If our country stands for anything, folks, it's freedom. People died for that freedom. I'm not sure if our President understands those rights. That every American has the right to speak out also to protest. Believe me, these athletes do love our this great country of ours. Personally, I think our President should concentrate on North Korea and healthcare rather than ripping into athletes and the NFL."
Echoing Bradshaw's sentiments was Michael Strahan, who highlighted racial concerns within the league and the misinterpretation of the protests.
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He added: "70% of the players are African-American and almost 100% of the ones who are kneeling are African-American. A lot of them have taken exception to being called 'SOB's'. They feel like they have been told to stay in their place. It has turned into an issue about the flag, but it has never been that. It's about inequality, injustice, mistreatment of minority... it has a been a spin to say that players are protesting the flag.
Since then, players have been given the choice to display a message on their helmets, options include 'Black Lives Matter', 'End Racism' and 'Choose Love'. Players are also encouraged to voice their opinions on social issues as they deem necessary.