The Ringer - Everything You Need to Know About NFL Week 32020-09-23T08:17:12-04:00http://www.theringer.com/rss/stream/161224912020-09-23T08:17:12-04:002020-09-23T08:17:12-04:00Top 24 Check-in, Take Tahoe, and Bad Beats
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<img alt="Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7lYHwR0YeMZl9LpyjkaI6nSathY=/186x0:4379x3145/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67454169/1273739879.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Looking at injuries, whiffs, and other preseason surprises going into Week 3</p> <div id="1JDRsc"><iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/episode/3dvAgIckkeCyiPl2Z15BAC" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 232px;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>
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<p id="3C4V8n"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dvAgIckkeCyiPl2Z15BAC?si=6U2m0_NBQjOBwbTE8tMZBw">We check in on the top 24 from preseason drafts</a> and take a look at injuries, whiffs, and other preseason surprises entering Week 3. Craig calls in from Lake Tahoe to give a Take Tahoe. Then we take a look at some of our favorite listener bad beats.</p>
<h5 id="U91zcD">Checking in on the Top 24</h5>
<ul>
<li id="gSih85">Christian McCaffrey (07:46)</li>
<li id="gVliZO">Saquon Barkley (09:44)</li>
<li id="zazn6C">Ezekiel Elliott (09:56)</li>
<li id="sro9sR">Michael Thomas (10:05)</li>
<li id="JqopJs">Derrick Henry (12:12)</li>
<li id="kGqGji">Dalvin Cook (14:32)</li>
<li id="cZclcr">Davante Adams (16:43)</li>
<li id="ErwzMc">Take Tahoe With Craig (40:27)</li>
<li id="x39QNL">Bad Beats (56:18)</li>
</ul>
https://www.theringer.com/2020/9/23/21452217/top-24-check-in-take-tahoe-and-bad-beatsDanny HeifetzDanny Kelly2019-09-24T06:20:00-04:002019-09-24T06:20:00-04:00All of Daniel Jones’s Passes From His First Start, Ranked
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<figcaption>Getty Images/Ringer illlustration</figcaption>
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<p>The good, the bad, the brave, the legendary—we digested every play the New York Giants rookie made in his first full game </p> <aside id="sBzpJT"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everything You Need to Know About Week 3 of the 2019 NFL Season ","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/20/20876190/everything-you-need-to-know-about-week-3-of-the-2019-nfl-season"}]}'></div></aside><p id="NuNfoN"><em>Welcome to </em>The Ringer’s <em>weekly NFL rankings, where we’ll break down the good, the bad, and the absurd of the 2019 season. Every Tuesday, we’ll have a ranking of the moments, players, or story lines that are driving the conversation around the league. This week, we’re dissecting every pass attempt on Sunday from our new football savior, Giants rookie Daniel Jones.</em></p>
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<p id="mivmkf">We in the media were wrong. We called Daniel Jones an epic bust before he even signed his rookie contract. We derided him as an Eli Manning cloning project gone awry before he even put on a Giants uniform. We pretended it didn’t matter when he excelled in the preseason. </p>
<div class="c-float-left"><aside id="PmbEKJ"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Backup Quarterbacks Are Shaking Up Fantasy Football","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/23/20879299/fantasy-playbook-backup-quarterbacks-week-3"},{"title":"Danny Dimes, Praised Be His Name, Needed Just One Start to End the Giants’ Purgatory","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/23/20880190/daniel-jones-eli-manning-new-york-giants-starting-quarterback"},{"title":"The Starting 11: The Biggest Takeaways From Week 3’s Revenge of the Backup QBs ","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/23/20880676/the-starting-11-backup-quarterbacks-daniel-jones-kyle-allen-gardner-minshew"}]}'></div></aside></div>
<p id="QlDfmE">Consider this a mea culpa for the entire NFL draft media industrial complex. In his first pro start on Sunday, Jones led his team to a dramatic, come-from-behind 32-31 victory over the Buccaneers. While Jones had a little help from a missed Matt Gay field goal as time expired, he looked downright excellent at times. Jones, who took the reins from 16-year veteran Eli Manning, had 336 yards on 23-of-36 passing. And most of those 36 attempts looked pretty damn good.</p>
<p id="fx1KaE">We here at <em>The Ringer</em> know <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl-draft/2019/4/25/18517275/new-york-giants-daniel-jones">we need to eat some crow</a>. And what better way to do it than chewing on all of Jones’s passes, plus a few extra plays. Here are all of Daniel Jones’s throws in his pro debut, ranked.</p>
<h3 id="Wh03ni">The Bad</h3>
<h5 id="LCEtmq">38. 06:19, second quarter: Deep pass to Bennie Fowler, incomplete</h5>
<p id="BmHYGb">There aren’t a ton of bad throws to pick from, but this one stands out. On third-and-15, Jones has one of his worst passes of the day. He telegraphs his throw to Fowler, missing safety Mike Edwards, who makes a play on the ball and drops a sure interception. </p>
<div id="aPz5vr"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 51.0345%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/drxa3Xdw38tmPpFgHx" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<h5 id="ZMonqV">37. 10:09, second quarter: Short pass to Saquon Barkley, incomplete</h5>
<p id="Kk7h9j">If Barkley had turned his head a second sooner, he could have waltzed in for a touchdown. It’s unfortunate that Barkley’s high ankle sprain could keep him out until after the Giants’ Week 11 bye, because these two could turn into a real threat if they can get more reps together.</p>
<h5 id="rRLla7">36. 0:21, first quarter: Short pass to Saquon Barkley, loss of 1 yard</h5>
<p id="Dv0MXb">Jones fakes play-action before hitting Barkley for a short pass. Two Tampa Bay defenders closed in. The first negative pass play of the game for the Giants.</p>
<h5 id="9IGZu3">35. 06:29, third quarter: Short pass to Wayne Gallman, incomplete</h5>
<p id="NTmKgk">This throw was originally ruled a fumble before the call was reversed. Jones got creamed as he threw. It had no chance, but Jones needs to work on his awareness in the pocket.</p>
<h5 id="d2cxmh">34. 01:30, fourth quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, incomplete</h5>
<h5 id="lUXrML">33. 01:26, fourth quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, incomplete</h5>
<p id="wZBnl0">Jones and Engram failed to connect on back-to-back short passes late in the Giants’ final drive. The consecutive misses set up fourth-and-7. It’s not what you want, though you’d be forgiven for forgetting them because of what came next. (More on that toward the end of this list.)</p>
<h5 id="0XTkza">32. 06:34, third quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="4Lp7Yh">One of the rare instances of Jones overthrowing Sterling Shepard.</p>
<h5 id="RcRq9z">31. 09:38, third quarter: Short pass to Russell Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="YJZPDW">Jones had Shepard open for a touchdown but held onto the ball for a second too long.</p>
<h5 id="hia5fM">30. 06:13, first quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 6 yards </h5>
<p id="FOSFXl">Jones converts an early third down. But that’s not because of his throw, which was way too high. Look at this spectacular one-handed grab from Engram. </p>
<div id="5NFGkx"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 54.9425%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/PmFtTmHednxtagmYxj" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="8MvNKi">No wonder Engram emerged as Jones’s favorite target on Sunday.</p>
<h5 id="PpChUI">BONUS: 02:22, second quarter: Sacked, fumble</h5>
<p id="aIB3Cp">Jones coughs up the ball, which is recovered by Tampa Bay. It set up a three-play, 41-yard Buccaneers touchdown drive. </p>
<div id="ycjqua"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 49.8851%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/fx69cOlM9s8CtGx4M3" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="A1IvZj">This was the first of two giveaways recovered by Tampa Bay—not counting the above play that was initially ruled a fumble. Jones looked great in his debut, but if there’s anything for him to immediately work to improve, it’s protecting the football. </p>
<h4 id="pPz7o7">The Whatever</h4>
<h5 id="VqE6Iz">29. 04:37, fourth quarter: Short pass to Russell Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="H2uKHb">Cornerback Carlton Davis made a great play on the ball, giving Shepard no shot. The Giants punted on the next play.</p>
<h5 id="twVMsz">28. 02:20, fourth quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 1 yard</h5>
<p id="dFTSJh">Engram quickly got out of bounds, so no harm no foul on this quick throw that went for only 1 on the team’s final drive.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"><div id="ClzBOm"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YccvXcGcq3Y?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div></div>
<h5 id="HhJVFo">27. 05:22, fourth quarter: Short pass to Rhett Ellison, 3 yards</h5>
<p id="AGewsH">The only time Jones targeted the team’s second tight end.</p>
<h5 id="bnP3jS">26. 04:59, first quarter: Short pass to Saquon Barkley, 3 yards</h5>
<p id="pTZlKp">Jones targets Barkley for the first of the running back’s four receptions before he left with a high ankle sprain.</p>
<h5 id="3pm8z7">25. 04:15, first quarter: Short pass to Russell Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="sxcTrj">This was Jones’s first incompletion. He may have put a little too much juice on it, but he put it right on Shepard’s hands. The Giants would settle for a field goal on their first drive.</p>
<h5 id="DIkaxq">24. 11:32, second quarter: Short pass to Darius Slayton, incomplete</h5>
<p id="ZyIlvw">This pass was slightly ahead of Slayton, who may have had a chance at a catch if he weren’t blanketed by cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III.</p>
<h5 id="RwRo4S">23. 01:26, second quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, 6 yards</h5>
<p id="CkNK3G">Jones, who went 23-of-36 on Sunday, was especially efficient when targeting receivers in the middle of field, as he did Shepard on this play. Here’s his spray chart, courtesy Next Gen Stats:</p>
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<cite>NextGen Stats</cite>
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<h5 id="mIdr7X">22. 15:00, second quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 6 yards</h5>
<p id="Zxxv7A">A quick release for a strike over the middle to the tight end. Jones averaged 2.75 seconds a throw on Sunday, firmly <a href="https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/stats/passing/2019/3#average-time-to-throw">middle of the pack</a> in Week 3, but ahead of a handful of veteran pocket passers.</p>
<h5 id="LwO2Cy">21. 03:16, fourth quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, 5 yards</h5>
<p id="KYIK8M">This pass kicked off the fateful drive that brought us all to this blog here today.</p>
<h5 id="A96kk8">20. 11:28, second quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, incomplete, DPI penalty</h5>
<p id="vT5xen">Looks like Jones is already getting ticky-tack pass-interference penalties like a veteran. This kid’s a pro.</p>
<h5 id="edsXN0">19. 03:27, second quarter: Short pass to Saquon Barkley, 6 yards</h5>
<p id="R1un7m">This was a routine toss-and-catch, but it’s among the game’s most memorable—just for the wrong reasons. After taking the ball to the Giants’ 30, Saquon Barkley hobbles off the field with what was diagnosed as a high ankle sprain.</p>
<h3 id="mcOPI5">The Deep Incompletions</h3>
<h5 id="2r4cXV">18. 00:57, second quarter: Deep pass to Russell Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="IUm3ia">Jones’s longest throw of the day. He missed the other Shepard by a foot or two.</p>
<h5 id="6PO7aN">17. 11:23, second quarter: Deep pass to Darius Slayton, incomplete</h5>
<p id="7KKVFT">Jones’s first true deep shot of the game. Cornerback Carlton Davis has tight coverage along the sideline on Slayton, who gets a hand on the ball but can’t make the catch.</p>
<div id="eqzOrq"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 51.0345%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/emFrYjwuJs2T4s2RdL" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<h5 id="KZD4Q9">16. 07:30, second quarter: Deep pass to Sterling Shepard, incomplete</h5>
<p id="nKvEo1">Jones throws this ball 40-plus yards to a streaking, double-covered Shepard. He misses the receiver by inches. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz3pO7-JtTs">Eli grew his legend on</a> throws like this one. Jones may not be far off.</p>
<h3 id="AYrCfH">The Effective</h3>
<h5 id="UhwRzq">15. 09:47, first quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 18 yards </h5>
<p id="PAPpP5">Look at our boy go! On his first pass attempt, Jones hits Engram with a short pass that the tight end takes upfield for a first down and then some. It was an auspicious start to Jones’s first pro start and signaled what was to come.</p>
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<h5 id="vsjdJO">14. 09:04, third quarter: Short pass to Russell Shepard, 6 yards</h5>
<p id="FLHOKP">This simple, short pass took the Giants to the Tampa Bay 7 and set up Jones’s best-looking throw of the day.</p>
<h5 id="NbiTjL">13. 02:00, fourth quarter: Short pass to Bennie Fowler, 5 yards</h5>
<p id="gmWfG4">A simple pass to move the Giants to within the Bucs’ 10 on New York’s final drive.</p>
<h5 id="r9CXkZ">12. 12:11, second quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, 12 yards </h5>
<p id="NG5lHA">Sterling Shepard had seven receptions on nine targets for 100 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He’s the team’s no. 1 wideout, and he’ll retain that position even after Golden Tate returns from suspension in Week 5.</p>
<div id="ycaGfG"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DSw1jOoMqbU?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<h5 id="tGiSNc">11. 02:53, second quarter: Short pass to Darius Slayton, 15 yards</h5>
<p id="9YkReu">Jones stands up in the pocket and completes a dart to Slayton, the rookie fifth-rounder who had three catches for 82 yards on Sunday.</p>
<h5 id="PxEpE5">10. 02:48, fourth quarter: Deep pass to Darius Slayton, 21 yards</h5>
<p id="C1D23h">The Giants are now in a hurry-up offense, and on the second play of what ultimately became the game-winning drive, Jones hits Slayton for a deep pass near the sideline. Of all the promising things that we saw on Sunday, Jones’s ability to move the ball in a no-huddle situation late stood out.</p>
<h5 id="tH7hvO">9. 02:15, fourth quarter: Deep pass to Sterling Shepard, 36 yards</h5>
<p id="FTNvSQ">Tampa Bay’s defense broke down on this play, and there wasn’t anyone within 10 yards of Shepard. But this was a solid throw by Jones to bring the Giants to the Bucs’ 12-yard line.</p>
<div id="qhlntp"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50.8046%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/lPdrpqKj2EKiP2cCgg" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<h5 id="amB1g4">BONUS: 14:23, second quarter: Scramble, 11 yards</h5>
<p id="in64qR">See Swag run. On third-and-5 and facing pressure, Jones tucks the ball in and runs for a first down. This was the first indication on Sunday that Jones was <a href="https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/06/brian-baldinger-daniel-jones-greatest-athlete-play-qb-new-york-giants/">the athletic QB</a> the Giants were looking for when they drafted him.</p>
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<h3 id="8AaYwi">The Brave</h3>
<h5 id="kuSz9n">8. 11:36, third quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, 8 yards</h5>
<p id="7OL2jR">Tampa Bay brought five on this play, but Jones was unfazed by the blitz.</p>
<h5 id="GDP3Tq">7. 13:08, second quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 7 yards </h5>
<p id="Lkz9ZG">Jones rolls out and gets crushed as he hits the tight end for a first down. </p>
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<p id="2DbGtB">No one can accuse the rookie of being shook. </p>
<h5 id="MWSu2N">6. 07:58, first quarter: Deep pass to Sterling Shepard, 26 yards</h5>
<p id="6eCJNB">With his pocket collapsing, Jones hurls an off-balance pass to Shepard, who was cutting toward the sideline. An excellent throw under pressure—a <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1175918468127838208">theme of the afternoon</a>.</p>
<h5 id="pOoxLJ">5. 10:34, second quarter: Short pass to Saquon Barkley, 19 yards</h5>
<p id="Mwnab1">Jones escapes pressure and hits Barkley to bring the Giants to the Tampa Bay 7-yard line. </p>
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<h5 id="LAJIsn">BONUS: 10:06, second quarter: Designed run, 7 yards, touchdown</h5>
<p id="VPT5AL">The first of two rushing touchdowns for Jones. The Giants used motion to trick the Tampa Bay defenders, who realized too late what was happening.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s what happened on that Daniel Jones touchdown, courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats... <a href="https://t.co/fv1qZVmR5C">pic.twitter.com/fv1qZVmR5C</a></p>— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaLaineESPN/status/1175877247288434688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="LivIkM">If nothing else, this play showed us that Danny Dimes should consider <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1175879885744746499">calling himself Danny Wheels</a>.</p>
<h3 id="0Lpl7x">The Highlight Reel</h3>
<h5 id="mchmpU">4. 15:00, third quarter: Short pass to Evan Engram, 75 yards, touchdown</h5>
<p id="nt8IEr">Hell yeah. This catch-and-run was all Engram, who was spectacular against Tampa Bay. </p>
<div id="fN1MLi"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 51.0345%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/lSn6gDkkBIAvKjzC9z" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="lce3C5">It was the most exciting play of the Giants’ season. At least until the fourth quarter.</p>
<h5 id="eWHuIv">3. 14:48, third quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, two-point conversion</h5>
<p id="pF3wb3">A quick pass to Shepard to bring the Giants to within 10. This was the team’s first two-point attempt of the season—indicative of head coach Pat Shurmur’s trust in the rookie and belief that his team actually had a chance to win a game. </p>
<h5 id="nnTKwW">2. 10:20, third quarter: Deep pass to Darius Slayton, 46 yards</h5>
<p id="enaZIv">Because it was a Bucs-Giants game, Fox had twins Ronde (a former Buc) and Tiki Barber (a former Giant) in the booth on Sunday. “Man, this kid is awesome,” one of the brothers said after this beautiful pass. As far as I can tell, they have identical voices, so I’m not sure which Barber complimented Jones. Based on history, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2984974">my money’s on Tiki</a>.</p>
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<h5 id="3n4aUx">BONUS: 01:21: Rush, 7 yards, touchdown</h5>
<p id="AxdYP9">This is the play we’ll all remember from Jones’s debut. The Bucs bring four defenders, but back their secondary into coverage, leaving plenty of daylight for Jones. The rookie, who had 17 rushing touchdowns in his college career, recognizes this immediately and jogs into the end zone for what would prove to be the winning score.</p>
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<h3 id="cNW7Cz">The One That Made Us Realize We May Owe Dave Gettleman an Apology</h3>
<h5 id="cWY4Wc">1. 08:21, third quarter: Short pass to Sterling Shepard, 7 yards, touchdown</h5>
<p id="4ydawE">A truly great throw. Jones’s second career touchdown pass was, forgive the pun, an absolute dime along the edge of the end zone.</p>
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<p class="c-end-para" id="u0V7wz">Operating in tight space, Jones times this pass perfectly and anticipates precisely where Sterling Shepard would wind up. It was a big-time throw—and an indication that Jones not only belongs in the NFL, but could thrive in it. The two rushing touchdowns and 75-yard pass to Engram are going to be what a lot of fans remember from this game, but this toss was the true first sign that we may have been wrong about Daniel Jones.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/24/20881333/daniel-jones-debut-first-start-passes-rushing-td-rankedJustin Sayles2017-09-26T00:27:06-04:002017-09-26T00:27:06-04:00The Cowboys Won on Monday Night, but Larry Fitzgerald Stole the Show
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<img alt="Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwp-sIRfr28aN4TNhWi05LcxDmo=/100x0:3713x2710/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56853257/853861584.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinals receiver dazzled with a highlight grab and moved up the all-time leaderboard</p> <aside id="cuM75T"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everything You Need to Know About NFL Week 3","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358450/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nfl-week-3"}]}'></div></aside><p id="pPihRN">It has been almost a decade since Larry Fitzgerald set the NFL postseason ablaze. In the playoffs following the 2008 campaign, the Cardinals receiver caught 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns—all three marks still NFL records—as his team came mere seconds, and toe-tapping inches, from a surprise Super Bowl title.</p>
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<p id="it0dwI">That playoff run occurred a long time ago. Kurt Warner was Fitzgerald’s quarterback and Matt Leinart the backup; Edgerrin James led the team in rushing; Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston joined Fitzgerald in the 1,000-yard receiving club. Those teammates have all since retired. Fitzgerald, conversely, is still making plays.</p>
<p id="c7xYp5">His Cardinals team admittedly lost on Monday night, falling 28-17 to Dallas in a game that became more entertaining with each successive quarter. Dak Prescott was the contest’s MVP, tallying three total touchdowns and recording a 141.7 passer rating as his Cowboys rallied from a sluggish start, but Fitzgerald was its brightest star. </p>
<p id="lz2u5i">The veteran receiver grabbed 13 of 15 targets, amassing 149 yards and a touchdown, and on a night in which Arizona struggled to run the ball without injured back David Johnson and protect Carson Palmer from a penetrating defensive front, he served as both the offense’s most reliable security valve and its greatest downfield threat. Throwing to Fitzgerald, Palmer’s passer rating was a robust 130.3. To all other targets, that mark was 74.8, and every non-Fitzgerald wide receiver combined for four catches.</p>
<p id="gUjuiL">Plus, Fitzgerald made this catch in the fourth quarter, providing the kind of highlight that’s so ridiculous it requires multiple viewings to figure out just quite what happened. It’s not so strange that a receiver would corral a pass with his forearm; it is strange that a receiver would corral a pass with <em>only</em> his forearm, which at the moment of the catch is lying flat on the turf.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">INSANE GRAB.<br>Oh my...<a href="https://twitter.com/LarryFitzgerald">@LarryFitzgerald</a> says "I'LL TAKE THAT!" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DALvsAZ?src=hash">#DALvsAZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeRedSeeRed?src=hash">#BeRedSeeRed</a> <a href="https://t.co/BntQSuG8yb">pic.twitter.com/BntQSuG8yb</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/912514481103691777">September 26, 2017</a>
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<p id="HtyhFv">More broadly, Fitzgerald’s night moved beyond the spectacular single play to the historic career achievement. Although he has acted as one of the sport’s premier receivers during its most pass-happy era, Fitzgerald’s rise is still somewhat of a surprise, given that he experienced a recent multiyear swoon. He failed to reach 1,000 yards or 100 catches in any season from 2012-2014; in the first of that three-year period, with John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley, and Brian Hoyer throwing him passes, he caught less than 50 percent of his targets for the only time in his career.</p>
<p id="Y2cx65">But after escaping Skelton’s wilderness, even an inconsistent Palmer looks like manna. Now a slot target rather than a downfield burner, Fitzgerald is back to his prolific ways. In each of the last two years, he exceeded the round numbers of 1,000 yards and 100 catches; after the 2015 season, he provided <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVX4tlmuoqo">another set of remarkable playoff highlights</a>, and last year he led the league with 107 grabs. His production hasn’t diminished in 2017: After Monday’s game, he’s on pace for 117 catches and 1,301 yards—right in line with, if not better than, his recent output.</p>
<p id="mH91iA">That consistency means that, much like a safety’s back on a jump ball, Fitzgerald is climbing all-time leaderboards. On Monday, he passed Marvin Harrison for eighth place on the NFL’s career receiving yards leaderboard, and seventh through third place are all within 1,000 yards. Even an average season would propel the Cardinal great to third place, behind only Jerry Rice (still more than 8,000 yards away) and Terrell Owens (fewer than 1,500), before he turns 35.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="hYvblC">With David Johnson out, with the <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2016/8/26/16041366/the-era-of-positionless-football-19c06f985480">once-innovative defense</a> struggling to jell, and with Palmer seeming to beg for multiple interceptions every game, the Cardinals outside Fitzgerald aren’t the most watchable bunch. The 1-2 team’s only win thus far came in a 16-13 overtime anti-classic against the similarly uninspired Colts. But at least Arizona, as always, has Fitzgerald. He’s making circus catches. He’s not slowing down. He’s unlikely to feature in the 2017 postseason, but for the sake of Cardinals fans’ joy and his own historical standing, he still has ample reason to star for the next 13 games.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/26/16365144/larry-fitzgerald-cowboys-cardinals-week-3Zach Kram2017-09-25T20:45:48-04:002017-09-25T20:45:48-04:00The NFL Responds to Donald Trump
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<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Trump attacked the NFL and its players during a rally Friday, insinuating that anyone who kneels during the national anthem is a “son of a bitch.” Many of the NFL’s most prominent figures have since stood up to the president. </p> <p id="aiQlmd">President Donald Trump set off a flurry of criticism in the sports world with his comments at a rally for Senator Luther Strange on Friday. While speaking to a crowd in Huntsville, Alabama, Trump <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/22/16353554/donald-trump-nfl-protests-youre-fired-colin-kaepernick">insinuated that any football player who kneels</a> during the national anthem is a “son of a bitch” who should be “fired.” He <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanAGraham/status/911397671553732608">also suggested</a> that an NFL owner would become “the most popular person in this country” for taking action against such a player, criticized penalties designed to protect player health, and took jabs at the league’s television ratings.</p>
<p id="wOPAxA">On Saturday, in addition to <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2017/9/23/16354556/donald-trump-steph-curry-white-house-visit-golden-state-warriors">going after Steph Curry</a>, Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911654184918880260">doubled</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911655987857281024">down</a> on his comments. Then, on Sunday afternoon, he again <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanAGraham/status/912068685170438154">reiterated</a> his thoughts, saying that “owners should do something about” their protesting players, while adding, “This has nothing to do with race.” Over the weekend, dozens of NFL players, the NFLPA, team owners, and others have promptly responded, offering criticism, hinting at further protests, and voicing outrage in light of the president’s remarks. </p>
<p id="MvE4qj">Below is a running list of various NFL figures standing up to Trump. This post will be regularly updated over the course of the weekend as news breaks.</p>
<h3 id="AvOtFK">The Cowboys and Cardinals Wrap Up a Weekend of Protests</h3>
<p id="LP9Of5"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/zach-kram"><strong>Zach Kram</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Before Monday night’s matchup between the Cowboys and Cardinals in Arizona, the two teams continued the weekend’s displays. According to a sideline report, both franchises had discussed making a joint expression of unity, but those talks fell through.</p>
<p id="vEZcNn">Standing as a group, the Cardinals linked arms in an end zone, while the Cowboys, also with arms linked together, collectively kneeled on the field before the anthem began, then stood while Jordin Sparks sang. Owner Jerry Jones, coach Jason Garrett, and executive vice presidents Stephen and Charlotte Jones <a href="https://twitter.com/DMN_George/status/912472532577509376">were among that group</a> of Cowboys. <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNMichele/status/912412704165519361">According to ESPN’s Michele Steele</a>, Jerry Jones is the only remaining NFL owner not to release an official statement about Trump’s remarks.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones locked arms and took a knee in unity prior to the national anthem <a href="https://t.co/7kK3qVMDSo">pic.twitter.com/7kK3qVMDSo</a></p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912473528351559680">September 26, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="gsBf7D">Players and Coaches Continue to Comment on Protests</h3>
<p id="QyZkR7"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/riley-mcatee"><strong>Riley McAtee</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Sunday night, Redskins cornerback Josh Norman <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/09/25/josh-norman-on-donald-trump-this-right-here-is-not-acceptable/">spoke for more than 20 minutes about his decision to protest</a> during the national anthem, at one point waving off a team official so that he could continue speaking. Norman’s said that his decision was based solely in his opposition to President Trump.</p>
<p id="fZjteg">“It’s not about the flag,” Norman said. “It’s not. It’s not about anything like that. It’s not about black and white. It’s about what we are being faced with right now, and that’s being teared down, from <em>in</em> the White House, <em>behind</em> the podium, <em>behind</em> the presidency of the United States of America.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">here's redskins cb josh norman calling donald trump a tyrant <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/httr?src=hash">#httr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeTheKnee?src=hash">#TakeTheKnee</a> <a href="https://t.co/7Zkaw6qUaZ">pic.twitter.com/7Zkaw6qUaZ</a></p>— Oliver Willis (@owillis) <a href="https://twitter.com/owillis/status/912161473434177536">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="T4RP5A">On Monday, NFL players and coaches continued to expound on Sunday’s widespread protests. Niners safety Eric Reid, who often kneeled along with teammate Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem last season, penned <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/colin-kaepernick-football-protests.html">an op-ed in <em>The New York Times</em></a> explaining why he took action and how he and Kaepernick came to the decision to kneel.</p>
<p id="XFcSrH">“We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture,” Reid wrote. “I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.”</p>
<p id="P2mqbP">He also explained the original reason for his protest:</p>
<p id="wq0tPg">“[Kaepernick and I] spoke at length about many of the issues that face our community, including systemic oppression against people of color, police brutality and the criminal justice system.”</p>
<p id="dOTfu3">“I refuse to be one of those people who watches injustices yet does nothing,” Reid concluded.</p>
<p id="LLOZBD">On Monday, Alejandro Villanueva, the Pittsburgh offensive lineman and military veteran who stood outside the tunnel during the national anthem on Sunday, clarified why he was the only Steeler to appear before the game kicked off, saying <a href="https://twitter.com/c_adamskitrib/status/912424389311950848">it was an accident</a>.</p>
<p id="nSzwM5">“Unfortunately, I threw [my teammates] under the bus, unintentionally,” he said.</p>
<p id="fEwkDK">Villanueva had asked to join the team’s captains just outside the tunnel during the anthem. But due to what he called “chaos” in the tunnel, the captains didn’t make it and Villanueva wound up alone. He then put his hand over his heart while the song played. </p>
<p id="cf9efu">Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he regretted the way his team, which did not come out of the tunnel until after the national anthem ended, handled the protest.</p>
<p id="HoWxr0">“I was unable to sleep last night,” he wrote in a statement on his website. “The idea was to be unified as a team when so much attention is paid to things dividing our country, but I wish we approached it differently. … I personally don’t believe the Anthem is ever the time to make any type of protest.”</p>
<p id="KrCmbq">Also on Monday, Broncos coach Vance Joseph called Trump’s comments “<a href="https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala/status/912406560730517504">upsetting</a>” before saying he believed in standing for the anthem. “Politics and football don’t mix, in my opinion,” Joseph said.</p>
<p id="YowCuk">Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/11/09/bill-belichick-says-that-donald-trump-letter-was-about-friendship-not-politics/">who during the 2016 campaign wrote a letter to Trump praising his leadership</a>, supported his players, though his statement did not mention protests, the president, or the national anthem specifically.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bill Belichick statement on protests <a href="https://t.co/L3xSTiGsWh">pic.twitter.com/L3xSTiGsWh</a></p>— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/912407377508536331">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="1TM9bV">Panthers owner Jerry Richardson supported his team Monday, saying in a statement that “politicizing the game is damaging.” Like Belichick, he also did not mention protests or the anthem.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from Panthers Owner/Founder Jerry Richardson <a href="https://t.co/aTDcTkfIRW">pic.twitter.com/aTDcTkfIRW</a></p>— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Panthers/status/912406360058458114">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="D1Wr7U">With Richardson’s statement, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is the only NFL owner to not comment on the protests, <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNMichele/status/912412704165519361">according to ESPN’s Michele Steele</a>. Jones has previously said he preferred that players stand during the anthem, <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/08/22/jerry-jones-feels-very-strongly-players-shouldnt-protest-national-anthem/">telling a Dallas-area radio show in August</a> that he feels “so strongly that the act of recognizing the flag is a salute to our country and all of the people that have sacrificed so that we can have the liberties we have.”</p>
<p id="JtJm9o">Jones’s Cowboys play the Cardinals tonight on <em>Monday Night Football</em>.</p>
<h3 id="Z2NtjW">After the Afternoon Games, NFL Players Continue to Explain Their Actions</h3>
<p id="Nh8SAX"><strong>McAtee: </strong>After the three afternoon games ended, players who protested before or during those contests explained why they took action.</p>
<p id="a3UvDZ">Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith called Trump’s comments alarming. “This is the same guy who couldn't condemn violent neo-Nazis but he's condemning guys that are taking a knee during the national anthem,” Smith <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0703763945021773024-4">said</a>, referring to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/us/politics/trump-charlottesville-white-nationalists.html?mcubz=1">president’s assertion that there were “very fine people on both sides”</a> after protests by neo-Nazis and other right-wing groups erupted into violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month.</p>
<p id="kV5MTg">Cincy receiver A.J. Green explained why the Bengals chose to stand, with arms locked together, during the anthem:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">AJ Green <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash">#Bengals</a> standing for anthem: "We're a family here. We don't care what color you are. I'm a black man, I understand, but..." <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19">@fox19</a> <a href="https://t.co/VG48aOO97Q">pic.twitter.com/VG48aOO97Q</a></p>— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/912115483775782917">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="qmasI6">Packers tight end Lance Kendricks, whose wife is Puerto Rican, asked for the president to focus on Puerto Rico, which is <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-20170924-story.html">without power after Hurricane Maria</a>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Packers?src=hash">#Packers</a> TE Lance Kendricks' initial remarks about his decision to sit during the National Anthem. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PuertoRico?src=hash">#PuertoRico</a> <a href="https://t.co/wtZ0aS8zzq">pic.twitter.com/wtZ0aS8zzq</a></p>— Tony Cartagena (@TonyCartagena) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyCartagena/status/912117542637981696">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="zUekNb">Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett responded to Trump’s “son of a bitch” comment by saying, “My mom is a beautiful lady,” during the team’s postgame press conference.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Bennett was appalled by Trump's comments: "My mom is a beautiful lady...I think she raised a good man, not just me, but my brother."</p>— Jessamyn McIntyre (@JessamynMcIntyr) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessamynMcIntyr/status/912107113358356480">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="NitSl1">Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed his team’s emphasis on “love” and “unity.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rodgers on anthem and linking arms: "on this team we will keep choosing love over hate and unity over division"</p>— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) <a href="https://twitter.com/SchroederWBAY/status/912110417459187717">September 25, 2017</a>
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<strong>Raiders and Redskins Players Protest Before </strong><em><strong>Sunday Night Football</strong></em>
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<p id="X0n6Fy"><strong>McAtee</strong><strong>:</strong> Before the day’s final game, nearly the entire Raiders team sat, arms interlinked, during the playing of the national anthem. Oakland had initially planned to remain in the locker room for the anthem—following the leads of Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tennessee—but the schedule before a primetime game, which is slightly condensed, meant it wasn’t possible. As Michele Tafoya reported on the broadcast, missing the coin toss would have cost the Raiders a 15-yard penalty and they would have forfeited their ability to start with the football for both halves.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/cbhkgZiMZk">pic.twitter.com/cbhkgZiMZk</a></p>— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) <a href="https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/912111560767700992">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="fXVm7H">On the opposite sideline, the Redskins mostly stood for the anthem, with a few players kneeling. The team had its arms interlocked, including owner Dan Snyder, who stood with the players. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Many players from the Redskins took a knee or locked arms during tonight's national anthem. <a href="https://t.co/HNn0tDSy8r">pic.twitter.com/HNn0tDSy8r</a></p>— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/912112539579719680">September 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="y9le8q">As the broadcast began, NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth called on the president to apologize for his comments and invite some of the Washington players to the White House.</p>
<h3 id="O9MaKs"></h3>
<h3 id="0zTpdL">Players Address Protests After the Early Round of Games</h3>
<p id="pEWYKQ"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/megan-schuster"><strong>Megan Schuster</strong></a><strong>:</strong> After the first slate of Sunday games ended, players who protested during the national anthem (and during the game) explained their decisions.</p>
<p id="f0nVVw">Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers remained in the locker room for the anthem, and after the game said, “We know what went on this week with the comments that were made by the president, and I felt like he attacked our brothers.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julius Peppers explains <a href="https://t.co/r2Meh2mBwj">pic.twitter.com/r2Meh2mBwj</a></p>— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) <a href="https://twitter.com/PanthersBill/status/912049423684861953">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="t0Gnw2">Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy said President Donald Trump was “<a href="https://twitter.com/mikerodak/status/912053485390229505">acting like a jerk</a>,” and that was why he stretched through the national anthem. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LeSean McCoy stretches during the National Anthem. My new favorite player. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeTheKnee?src=hash">#TakeTheKnee</a> <a href="https://t.co/AcykAYrThW">pic.twitter.com/AcykAYrThW</a></p>— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrFilmkritik/status/912006454739177473">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="Z4bYQC">Von Miller, Broncos linebacker and the MVP of Super Bowl 50, kneeled for the anthem because he felt the president’s comments were “an assault on our most cherished right: freedom of speech.” </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Von on why he kneeled for anthem: "We felt like President Trump's speech was an assault on our most cherished right, freedom of speech."</p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/912055377352695813">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="QKkV8P">Dolphins safety Michael Thomas became emotional after Miami’s game while talking about Trump’s comments.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dolphins safety Michael Thomas started breaking up when talking about Trump calling him "a son of a b!tch." <a href="https://t.co/Z4wroPcvzW">pic.twitter.com/Z4wroPcvzW</a></p>— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarKelly/status/912050451041984513">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="Xir5fV">Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who stood with his fist raised during the anthem on Sunday, said that Trump’s comments were “<a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0703712377731813521-4">no different from any troll who’s been coming after me on social media for the past year</a>.”</p>
<p id="hyW8yq">And after scoring his first touchdown of the day against the Eagles, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. dropped down onto his hands and knees in the end zone and mimicked the action of a dog relieving itself. When he was asked after the game why he did that, Beckham <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/09/24/odell-beckham-on-canine-td-celebration-im-a-dog-so-i-acted-like-one/">responded</a>, “I don’t know. I’m in the end zone. I’m a dog. So I acted like a dog.” And after his second touchdown of the day, Beckham stood in the end zone while raising his right fist. When asked if the pose was related to the leaguewide protests, Beckham <a href="https://twitter.com/RVacchianoSNY/status/912060373188128769">said</a>, “Did it look like it? Then it might have meant something.” </p>
<h3 id="msTt46">Members of the Chiefs and Chargers Sit and Kneel During the National Anthem</h3>
<p id="RuLOl5"><strong>Schuster: </strong>Before the Chiefs-Chargers game kicked off in Los Angeles, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce took a knee during the national anthem, as did linebacker <a href="https://twitter.com/davidphotokc/status/912050551084351488">Justin Houston</a>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Travis Kelce took a knee during the national anthem <a href="https://t.co/kr6SoviYmt">pic.twitter.com/kr6SoviYmt</a></p>— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/912053665619464193">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="olXgpz">Other members of the Chiefs decided to sit on the bench during the anthem.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Members of the Chiefs sit in protest during the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, via <a href="https://twitter.com/AP">@AP</a> <a href="https://t.co/cDCJzo69Lw">pic.twitter.com/cDCJzo69Lw</a></p>— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCTV5/status/912055828588396546">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="8k5eM6">On the other sideline, <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/912049434770280448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-nfl-week-3-live-updates-some-chargers-and-chiefs-players-take-1506284910-htmlstory.html">five Chargers defensive linemen</a> sat as well: Chris McCain, Darius Philon, Tenny Palepoi, Damion Square and Brandon Mebane.</p>
<h3 id="RbiuSL">Packers and Bengals Players Lock Arms With Their Teammates for the National Anthem</h3>
<p id="9dqcKk"><strong>Schuster: </strong>After powerful statements from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZbPT6blpQl/?hl=en&taken-by=aaronrodgers12">Aaron Rodgers</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911689636094910465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theringer.com%2Fnfl%2F2017%2F9%2F23%2F16355992%2Fnfl-players-owners-respond-donald-trump-comments">Martellus Bennett</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/tae15adams/status/911647573336870917">Davante Adams</a>, and team president <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911719358921084928/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theringer.com%2Fnfl%2F2017%2F9%2F23%2F16355992%2Fnfl-players-owners-respond-donald-trump-comments">Mark Murphy</a>, the Packers took the field on Sunday afternoon in Green Bay for the national anthem. Most players linked arms and stood together, while three players — Bennett, tight end Lance Kendricks, and cornerback Kevin King — sat on the bench.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Majority of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Packers?src=hash">#Packers</a> locked arms during anthem. Other stood but weren't part of locking arms. Three (Bennett, Kendricks, King) sat on bench. <a href="https://t.co/XNvkbkeV3d">pic.twitter.com/XNvkbkeV3d</a></p>— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonjwilde/status/912050754923433984">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="onjBYk">Their opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals, also stood together with their arms locked for the anthem. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash">#Bengals</a> players lock arms during national anthem before game against Packers. <a href="https://twitter.com/Enquirer">@Enquirer</a> <a href="https://t.co/5YhVVCgviH">pic.twitter.com/5YhVVCgviH</a></p>— Kareem Elgazzar (@ElgazzarBLVD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElgazzarBLVD/status/912050045276577792">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="9lf0xS">Anthem Performers Kneel in Nashville</h3>
<p id="ydUsI5"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/danny-heifetz"><strong>Danny Heifetz</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Neither the Titans nor Seahawks were on the sideline for the national anthem before their game in Nashville on Sunday, and the song was sung on a mostly empty field. At the end of the performance, both performers took a knee.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Surreal scene here in Nashville as entire <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash">#Seahawks</a>, Titans teams including coaches, staff, all players skip national anthem <a href="https://t.co/UCdANOKdAV">pic.twitter.com/UCdANOKdAV</a></p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/912044923725246464">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthem singers in Tennessee also take a knee, while Seahawks and Titans teams stayed in locker room. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeaKnee?src=hash">#TakeaKnee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeAKneeNFL?src=hash">#TakeAKneeNFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ww5DA39EN7">pic.twitter.com/ww5DA39EN7</a></p>— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamilKaramali/status/912045730885361664">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="1d8kLC">Both teams emerged after the anthem concluded.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">After national anthem ends, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash">#Seahawks</a>, Titans come onto the field to play. <a href="https://twitter.com/thenewstribune">@thenewstribune</a> <a href="https://t.co/0rGgjBFuJT">pic.twitter.com/0rGgjBFuJT</a></p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/912045477033578496">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="1QyMbD">Seahawks and Titans Plan to Stay in Their Locker Rooms During the National Anthem</h3>
<p id="pJRgBx"><strong>Heifetz: </strong>The Seahawks and Titans will stay in their locker rooms during the national anthem ahead of their Sunday-afternoon game, <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/912019961249501184">according to the <em>MMQB</em>’s Albert Breer</a>. Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/6/16262452/michael-bennett-incident-mayweather-mcgregor-fight">alleged he was assaulted and threatened</a> with a gun by Las Vegas police in August, was <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/21/16346402/nfl-memo-roger-goodell-social-activism">one of the four players who sent commissioner Roger Goodell a memo</a> last month asking for the league’s support in player activism. <a href="http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Statement-from-Titans-Controlling-Owner-Amy-Adams-Strunk/56db4a3a-c1cb-444f-96ab-1e2e55e1fed2">Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk</a> and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll have already voiced their support for their players.</p>
<p id="vMjMmM">Update: Before kickoff, the Seahawks released a statement saying they would not be participating in the national anthem. The decision was made as a team, according to the statement, because “we will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country.”</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/GUhG3PB0fJ">pic.twitter.com/GUhG3PB0fJ</a></p>— Seattle Seahawks (@seahawksPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/seahawksPR/status/912038744408166401">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="bofK3g">The Titans <a href="http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Statement-from-Titans-Organization/a83b66a1-0e6f-4a71-8af6-b20c88c3e452">released a statement</a> later saying they also decided to stay in the locker room during the anthem.</p>
<h3 id="f1J5kv">Pittsburgh Steelers Remain in Locker Room During the National Anthem in Chicago</h3>
<p id="hJG9CL"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/riley-mcatee"><strong>Riley McAtee</strong></a><strong>: </strong>As NFL players across the country protested during the national anthem, the Steelers gave one of the most visible showings by not showing up at all.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Tomlin. No players behind him. <a href="https://t.co/GYR0M4EyvR">pic.twitter.com/GYR0M4EyvR</a></p>— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Edholm/status/911997940079775745">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="n2jtSQ">Head coach Mike Tomlin stood on the sideline without any of his players, a plan <a href="https://twitter.com/footballzebras/status/911975504374362120">the coach had announced several hours before the game</a>. Offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a military veteran who served three tours in Afghanistan, was the only Steelers player to emerge during the anthem, standing at the end of the tunnel with his hand over his heart. The rest of the team remained in the locker room. When they emerged, there were greeted with “<a href="https://twitter.com/Rich_Campbell/status/911998580378013696">heavy boos</a>” from the Chicago crowd—but also plenty Terrible Towel–waving from visiting Pittsburgh fans.</p>
<h3 id="ySMowD">Rico LaVelle Kneels and Raises His Fist After Singing National Anthem in Detroit</h3>
<p id="N94nmV"><strong>Kram</strong><strong>:</strong> At the Lions-Falcons game in Detroit on Sunday, <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Mackinder/status/911998597390061568">around 10 players</a> kneeled during the national anthem. Lions majority owner Martha Ford was also on the field, <a href="https://twitter.com/freepsports/status/911998830119407618">locking arms with Detroit coach Jim Caldwell</a> and defensive back Glover Quin. And at the conclusion of the national anthem, singer Rico LaVelle took a knee as he sang the final word—“brave”—and raised his right fist in the air.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW. Rico Lavelle, who sang the national anthem ahead of Detroit & Atlanta, kneels after the anthem. <a href="https://t.co/z0qPfem8kh">pic.twitter.com/z0qPfem8kh</a></p>— Harry (@HarryCFC_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryCFC_/status/911998939074666496">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="7FJX30">Teams Across the League Protest Before the Afternoon Games</h3>
<p id="oygKgN"><strong>Heifetz: </strong>Players around the league criticized the president’s remarks in several different ways during the national anthem before Sunday’s early slate of games. Many teams linked arms in unison, some with their coaches and owners. That group includes the Falcons, Vikings, Eagles, Patriots, Texans, and Colts, among others: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Atlanta owner Arthur Blank locking arms with two Falcons <a href="https://t.co/RNUlPhHbMq">pic.twitter.com/RNUlPhHbMq</a></p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912000464757121024">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Minnesota Vikings Harrison Smith locked arms with GM Rick Spielman, owners Mark Wilf & Zygi Wilf during the National Anthem. <a href="https://t.co/kXili7ANKJ">pic.twitter.com/kXili7ANKJ</a></p>— Carlos Gonzalez (@CarlosGphoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosGphoto/status/912002547002392576">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eagles players all locking arms during the anthem. Powerful show of unity. <a href="https://t.co/4tmycMJ7k3">pic.twitter.com/4tmycMJ7k3</a></p>— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoobCSN/status/911998309937684480">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patriots offensive linemen stood arm in arm. Several defensive players took a knee. Some loud boos <a href="https://t.co/4CGTZvIY3a">pic.twitter.com/4CGTZvIY3a</a></p>— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenVolin/status/911998698690924544">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Colts lock arms for the national anthem. Fans loudly boo them. <a href="https://t.co/NNzmhIRApL">pic.twitter.com/NNzmhIRApL</a></p>— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaWhitaker/status/911998067800465408">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="X3jbcY">Many players chose to kneel:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/TBBuccaneers">@TBBuccaneers</a> wide receivers <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeEvans13_">@MikeEvans13_</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DeSeanJackson11">@DeSeanJackson11</a> kneel during the national anthem before kickoff against <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings">@Vikings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash">#Bucs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/vPKPsIDoAJ">pic.twitter.com/vPKPsIDoAJ</a></p>— Loren Elliott (@Lelliottphoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lelliottphoto/status/911999736663744514">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Photos of Broncos players kneeling during the anthem. Rookie LT Garett Bolles his hand on Von Miller's shoulder. (pics by <a href="https://twitter.com/Presto89">@Presto89</a>) <a href="https://t.co/lmXq82iu6o">pic.twitter.com/lmXq82iu6o</a></p>— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala/status/912003133018181632">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="mx10iw">A collection of Saints players sat throughout the anthem:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Photo: Several <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a> sit for National Anthem in Carolina <a href="https://t.co/yZUugpjo1o">pic.twitter.com/yZUugpjo1o</a></p>— Michael DeMocker (@MichaelDeMocker) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelDeMocker/status/911999622398259200">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A group of Saints players remains seated during the national anthem. <a href="https://t.co/3NsTiiBWBK">pic.twitter.com/3NsTiiBWBK</a></p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/911999211293560837">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="chj8Dg">Some, including Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, stood at a remove; others, such as Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, emerged from their locker rooms after the anthem finished playing:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mychal Kendrick’s is standing off to th side, not linking arms with his teammates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eagles?src=hash">#Eagles</a> <a href="https://t.co/OhPBye6uwg">pic.twitter.com/OhPBye6uwg</a></p>— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/status/911998670920470543">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julius Peppers now walking onto the field <a href="https://t.co/Iagr5WKgYp">pic.twitter.com/Iagr5WKgYp</a></p>— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) <a href="https://twitter.com/PanthersBill/status/911998836691931136">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="1k1GGx"><strong>Members of the Miami Dolphins Wear #IMWITHKAP Shirts During Warmups</strong></h3>
<p id="GevMfG"><strong>Heifetz: </strong>Some<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Several-Miami-Dolphins-Players-Wear-IMWITHKAP-Shirts-Before-Game-447397643.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_MIBrand">Miami Dolphins players wore black-and-white shirts emblazoned</a> with the phrase #IMWITHKAP before their game against the New York Jets on Sunday. Dolphins receiver and team captain Kenny Stills posted the following tweet:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In case you didn't know! <a href="https://t.co/4tcw3D1LTm">pic.twitter.com/4tcw3D1LTm</a></p>— Kenny Stills (@KSTiLLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSTiLLS/status/911943481958035456">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="NlfPGi">Running back Jay Ajayi and offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Ja'Wuan James also wore the shirt during pregame warmups.</p>
<h3 id="D26zdW"><strong>Josh Norman Responds on Fox’s Pregame Show</strong></h3>
<p id="gQfkYx"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/ben-glicksman"><strong>Ben Glicksman</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Washington cornerback Josh Norman was asked about Trump’s remarks during Fox’s NFL pregame show on Sunday. He said: “I feel like what we’re doing is not about the flag, you know. It’s not about the protesting or demonstration of the flag. I think we love the flag and the country that we’re in. It’s about the person [Trump] that’s behind the podium.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Norman on Fox Sports isn’t sure what action Redskins players will do. “But if we do, we gotta do it as a group” <a href="https://t.co/4o6aej98n8">pic.twitter.com/4o6aej98n8</a></p>— Master Tesfatsion (@MasterTes) <a href="https://twitter.com/MasterTes/status/911986474907766784">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="2ctWcL">Mike Tomlin Says the Steelers Will Not Be on the Field For the Anthem</h3>
<p id="KmNLNH"><strong>Glicksman</strong><strong>: </strong>Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin told CBS’s Jamie Erdahl that his entire team will stay off the field for the playing of the national anthem before a Week 3 game against the Bears. Tomlin, clad in all black, said, “We’re not participating in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, to remove ourselves from this circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t be forced to choose sides.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reveals to <a href="https://twitter.com/JamieErdahl">@JamieErdahl</a> that the team will not be participating in today's national anthem. <a href="https://t.co/5zihPWQsMv">pic.twitter.com/5zihPWQsMv</a></p>— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/911972264744124416">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="TTnzG1"><strong>The Ravens and Jaguars Lock Arms and Kneel During the National Anthem in London</strong></h3>
<p id="ZwG8JD"><strong>Glicksman</strong><strong>: </strong>The Ravens and Jaguars were the first teams to take the field on Sunday of Week 3, and they presented a unified response to Trump’s comments by linking arms during the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in London. Large groups of players lining both the Baltimore and Jacksonville sidelines kneeled in a show of solidarity:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Members of the Ravens and Jaguars kneeled during the national anthem in response to Trump tweets including Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis. <a href="https://t.co/fGrfIoRtdz">pic.twitter.com/fGrfIoRtdz</a></p>— Jessie (@JMKTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMKTV/status/911947332765102081">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ravens players, along with Ray Lewis, take a knee during the national anthem in London. <a href="https://t.co/TcMnCvj33b">pic.twitter.com/TcMnCvj33b</a></p>— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) <a href="https://twitter.com/_JakeRussell/status/911946761685618688">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">As expected, a significant number of players kneeling in first NFL game -- Jaguars vs Ravens in London. <a href="https://t.co/yNsBOb0T5V">pic.twitter.com/yNsBOb0T5V</a></p>— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/911947180583346176">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="rfIokh">Owners, coaches, and former stars demonstrated their support for players’ right to peacefully protest as well. Ray Lewis took a knee with the Ravens, while Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and Jaguars owner Shad Khan (who was among the NFL owners who <a href="http://jacksonville.com/news/national/2017-04-19/jaguars-owner-shad-khan-among-nfl-owners-gave-1m-trump-inauguration">donated to Trump upon his inauguration</a>) linked arms with their players:</p>
<div id="hOX9BM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, yeah. It's a big deal. <a href="https://t.co/DDHqiV8xZd">pic.twitter.com/DDHqiV8xZd</a></p>— Doug Farrar (@BR_DougFarrar) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_DougFarrar/status/911948343181316097">September 24, 2017</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan: <a href="https://t.co/aMO8cHDWYb">pic.twitter.com/aMO8cHDWYb</a></p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911948452933898241">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="9nF0m6">The kneeling players <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/911946565371166720">all stood</a> when the British national anthem, “God Save the Queen,” was performed in Wembley Stadium directly afterward.</p>
<h3 id="WHLWml"><strong>Players Weigh In on Social Media</strong></h3>
<p id="yF5WDc"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/authors/riley-mcatee"><strong>Riley McAtee</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Bills running back LeSean McCoy was one of the first to respond Saturday, calling Trump an “asshole” on Twitter:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's really sad man ... our president is a asshole</p>— Lesean McCoy (@CutonDime25) <a href="https://twitter.com/CutonDime25/status/911601178219249664">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="fxzs9f">Packers tight end Martellus Bennett chimed in with a series of tweets, saying that he is “ok with being fired for what I believe in”:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'm ok with being fired for what I believe in.</p>— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911689636094910465">September 23, 2017</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The idea of <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a> thinking that suggesting firing me from football, confirms that he thinks that it's all I can do as a Black man</p>— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911690387089186817">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="ufw70v">Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said that Trump’s comments showed the President’s “dehumanized nature”:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Maybe my favorite response thus far. <a href="https://t.co/MpH2Y1dC44">pic.twitter.com/MpH2Y1dC44</a></p>— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdgeofSports/status/911722128550121472">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="PMSmoE">Raiders punter Marquette King, whose team is in Washington, D.C., for a Week 3 matchup with the Redskins, posted the following photo on Instagram:</p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZZhKuwAXSU/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"> ¯\_(ツ)_/¯</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Marquette King (@marquetteking) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-09-23T21:31:56+00:00">Sep 23, 2017 at 2:31pm PDT</time></p>
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<p id="bdc6tT">Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers posted to Instagram as well:</p>
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</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZbPT6blpQl/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#unity #brotherhood #family #dedication #love #</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Aaron Rodgers (@aaronrodgers12) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-09-24T13:34:23+00:00">Sep 24, 2017 at 6:34am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="NcWf3O">Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman tweeted that “<a href="https://twitter.com/RSherman_25/status/911597861195993088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-911597861195993088%26autosize%3D1">If you do not Condemn this divisive Rhetoric you are Condoning it</a>,” and Dolphins safety Michael Thomas urged his Twitter followers to “<a href="https://twitter.com/Michael31Thomas/status/911425141346840576">continue to use your voices and your platforms for racial equality and to stop injustices in our communities</a>.” Tons of other NFL players made comments critical of Trump or supportive of player protests, too: Steelers receiver <a href="https://twitter.com/justinhunter_11/status/911983009628393472">Justin Hunter</a>, Eagles safety <a href="https://twitter.com/MalcolmJenkins/status/911947554073583616">Malcolm Jenkins</a>, Lions tight end <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebron85/status/911410510498795520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-911410510498795520%26autosize%3D1">Eric Ebron</a>, Saints defensive end <a href="https://twitter.com/camjordan94/status/911619511513645056">Cameron Jordan</a>, Packers receiver <a href="https://twitter.com/tae15adams/status/911647573336870917">Davante Adams</a>, Dolphins guard <a href="https://twitter.com/j_bushrod7475/status/911595125616365570">Jermon Bushrod</a>, Panthers linebacker <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasDavisSDTM/status/911408865668943872">Thomas Davis</a>, Titans receiver <a href="https://twitter.com/_RMatthews/status/911409624640901120">Rishard Matthews</a>, Ravens tight end <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminSWatson/status/911492789317373952">Benjamin Watson</a>, Broncos guard <a href="https://twitter.com/MGarcia_76/status/911413703572180992">Max Garcia</a>, Rams linebacker <a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorBarwin98/status/911667206974402561">Connor Barwin</a>, Bengals safety <a href="https://twitter.com/George_iloka/status/911420349388066816">George Iloka</a>, Vikings running back <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopSankey/status/911410114766229504">Bishop Sankey</a>, Redskins linebacker <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachBrown_55/status/911407752324567047">Zach Brown</a>, Patriots defensive back <a href="https://twitter.com/McCourtyTwins/status/911585728739586048">Devin McCourty</a>, Chiefs receiver <a href="https://twitter.com/_flight17_/status/911427760182190080">Chris Conley</a>, Buccaneers defensive tackle <a href="https://twitter.com/cbakerswaggy/status/911433253088874501">Chris Baker</a>, Lions linebacker <a href="https://twitter.com/ReevesMaybin/status/911435537801719808">Jalen Reeves-Maybin</a>, Buccaneers safety <a href="https://twitter.com/BossWard43/status/911403080348000262">T.J. Ward</a>, and Eagles receiver <a href="https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/911630211791441920">Torrey Smith</a>, among others.</p>
<h3 id="wzCGIm">Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Calls Trump’s Comments “Insulting and Disgraceful”</h3>
<p id="ssosSY"><strong>Glicksman: </strong>Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue attended the Panthers-Saints game as a guest of Carolina owner Jerry Richardson on Sunday. He took aim at the president’s remarks, saying, “For me, to single out any particular group of players and call them SOBs, to me, that is insulting and disgraceful”:</p>
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<h3 id="TFH3Vm">
<strong>The NFLPA Defends Players’ Right to Protest</strong> </h3>
<p id="UeAmch"><strong>McAtee: </strong>NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, who was <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20761049/demaurice-smith-re-elected-nflpa-executive-director">unanimously reelected to his position Tuesday</a>, stated that “we no longer can afford to stick to sports” and that “no man or woman should ever have to choose a job that forces them to surrender their rights”:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports. <a href="https://t.co/Ec3Bc4qt9h">pic.twitter.com/Ec3Bc4qt9h</a></p>— DeMaurice Smith (@DeSmithNFLPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeSmithNFLPA/status/911545084528746496">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith: "No man or woman should ever have to choose a job that forces them to surrender their rights." Statement: <a href="https://t.co/lnLquiAMXu">pic.twitter.com/lnLquiAMXu</a></p>— Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBJLizMullen/status/911610952159657985">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="V91AOx">NFLPA president Eric Winston stated that “divisiveness breeds divisiveness”:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My statement: <a href="https://t.co/xxX6LRI92f">pic.twitter.com/xxX6LRI92f</a></p>— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericwinston/status/911640740568150022">September 23, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="JrPjPe">
<strong>NFL Owners</strong><strong> and Coaches</strong><strong> Make Statements</strong>
</h3>
<p id="g7i10D"><strong>McAtee: </strong>Most team owners have been tight-lipped with regard to player protests over the last year. Some, like Cowboys owner <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jerry-jones-feels-so-strongly-that-players-should-stand-for-the-national-anthem/">Jerry Jones</a>, have made it clear they believe players should stand for the national anthem. On Saturday, several owners came out in support of players’ right to protest. San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York released a statement asserting his team’s support for players:</p>
<div id="ZEfM8s">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/nrx16iBlkw">pic.twitter.com/nrx16iBlkw</a></p>— Jed York (@JedYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/JedYork/status/911709596124774400">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="tC8rsB">Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said that protesting players are “smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone”:</p>
<div id="o21MMi">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dolphins owner calls players who knelt for the anthem "smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone" <a href="https://t.co/Edkbsapdbl">pic.twitter.com/Edkbsapdbl</a></p>— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/911705064657448965">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="MqZ8l0">Packers president Mark Murphy called the comments “unfortunate”:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Packers president Mark Murphy weighs in: <a href="https://t.co/e8oOJe21Sj">pic.twitter.com/e8oOJe21Sj</a></p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911719358921084928">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="qCqved">Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said that Trump’s remarks were “inappropriate, offensive and divisive”:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash">#Giants</a> owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, in response to Trump's comments on the anthem: <a href="https://t.co/7HJufV6Bpz">pic.twitter.com/7HJufV6Bpz</a></p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/911687679175258112">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p id="V3WFBE">Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, who has been publicly linked to the president in the past and recently <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/08/22/bob-kraft-gave-trump-super-bowl-ring-but-not-his-ring/ZEeLZ2VVZNQ4kX2kG205eK/story.html">gave Trump a Super Bowl ring with his name engraved on it</a>, said that he supports players’ rights to “peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful”:</p>
<div id="pPeiZP">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Patriots?src=hash">#Patriots</a> Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft: <a href="https://t.co/f5DJeK0Woj">pic.twitter.com/f5DJeK0Woj</a></p>— New England Patriots (@Patriots) <a href="https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/911926759590957056">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="l8UjlH">Among the other executives to issue statements: <a href="https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/911775901452468226">Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula</a><a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/911687679175258112">,</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911783230701031425">Seahawks president Peter McLoughlin</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/911687679175258112"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911782102307360773">Colts owner Jim Irsay</a><a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/911687679175258112">,</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911777894405459969">Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/sportstori/status/911940359843930113">Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TimRohan/status/911964885117890560">Jaguars owner Shad Khan</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/911973267317121024">Bears chairman George McCaskey</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/911981677911707650">Rams owner Stan Kroenke</a>, <a href="http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2017/09/new_orleans_saints_statement_1.html">Saints owner Tom Benson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/911994438158651392">Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/912017569158135809">Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911974127464013824">Texans owner Bob McNair</a>. Then there is Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who said that “we can no longer remain silent.”</p>
<div id="8meMku">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/nsP9t7iJOM">pic.twitter.com/nsP9t7iJOM</a></p>— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteCarroll/status/911811747442544640">September 24, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="iv1cqN"><strong>Roger Goodell Gives an Official Statement</strong></h3>
<p id="8p2nS1"><strong>McAtee: </strong>Even commissioner Goodell responded, calling the president’s comments “divisive”: </p>
<div id="WdZzWD">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NFL's response to Trump's comments <a href="https://t.co/WcUJePAMKZ">pic.twitter.com/WcUJePAMKZ</a></p>— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala/status/911580372927942656">September 23, 2017</a>
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<p class="c-end-para" id="odkAC2">And though Goodell’s statement didn’t specifically mention Trump, the national anthem, or the issues of racial justice for which <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/21/16346402/nfl-memo-roger-goodell-social-activism">a group of NFL players asked for league support last month</a>, that didn’t stop Trump from <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911718138747727872">responding to it</a>, too.</p>
<p id="ObpCxY"></p>
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/23/16355992/nfl-players-owners-respond-donald-trump-commentsThe Ringer Staff2017-09-25T10:04:10-04:002017-09-25T10:04:10-04:00NFL Week 3 Recap: The League’s Players Show All That They Can Be
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<p>Donald Trump repeatedly attacked the league over the weekend. The players responded with a series of moments that transcend sports. Plus, Tom Brady leads the Patriots past Houston, and the Lions lose on a heartbreaker.</p> <p id="PJ00Ca"><a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358450/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nfl-week-3"><em>Click here for all our Week 3 NFL coverage.</em></a></p>
<p class="p--has-dropcap" id="yDmshU">By early Saturday afternoon, the stage already had been set for an NFL Sunday unlike any in history. Not 24 hours after speaking at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, where he urged team owners to fire any player who kneels for the national anthem—saying to “Get that son of a bitch off the field!”—President Donald Trump continued his barrage against the league by posting a series of tweets, including one <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911655987857281024">that suggested</a> players who don’t stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” should “find something else to do” professionally. </p>
<p id="Jszneb">Players responded in short order. The league’s most socially active voices led the way, with Packers tight end <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911690387089186817">Martellus Bennett tweeting</a> that Trump’s comments confirmed that “[the president] thinks [playing football] is all I can do as a black man.” Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin <a href="https://twitter.com/EdgeofSports/status/911722128550121472">released a statement</a> saying, “[Trump] has shown, since the beginning, his dehumanized nature.” Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, one of four NFL players who <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/21/16346402/nfl-memo-roger-goodell-social-activism">sent a memo to commissioner Roger Goodell</a> asking for the league’s support in player activism to raise awareness about racial inequality issues and criminal justice reform, <a href="https://twitter.com/MalcolmJenkins/status/911947554073583616">wrote</a>, “More than ever we remain committed to advocacy 4 equality & social justice 4 all!”</p>
<p id="mK1m5M">And those initial outcries were just the beginning. On social media, in showings of solidarity on the field, and in postgame interviews, players exhibited the combined strength of their platform. Given the climate that had been created, the widespread protests that took place in NFL stadiums on Sunday were hardly surprising. But that expectation made the scenes no less striking. Trump’s attacks on the league and its players ensured that Week 3 would be the NFL’s most visible slate in recent memory. As a community, players came together and put their best foot forward. </p>
<p id="dT46N8">When the <a href="https://twitter.com/seahawksPR/status/912038744408166401">Seahawks announced</a> that they had decided not to take the field for the national anthem before Sunday’s matchup with the Titans, the news wasn’t shocking. By that point in the afternoon, the early set of games was nearly done; players had knelt for the anthem in unprecedented numbers; and Goodell had already released a public statement. Yet when the anthem began in Nashville and neither team was on the sideline, their absence was both powerful and surreal.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Surreal scene here in Nashville as entire <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seahawks?src=hash">#Seahawks</a>, Titans teams including coaches, staff, all players skip national anthem <a href="https://t.co/UCdANOKdAV">pic.twitter.com/UCdANOKdAV</a></p>— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/912044923725246464">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="nYxkog">“It meant everything,” Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-insider-blog/article175195811.html">told reporters afterward</a>. “It was us coming together beyond football and just recognizing that as human beings there is something bigger than this.”</p>
<p id="jkAeTW">The <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrutchmer/status/912142784022417410">collection of player images from Sunday’s anthems comprised a breathtaking mosaic</a>: in London, the Jaguars and Ravens kneeling in unison on sidelines before most of America had had its morning coffee; in Landover, Maryland, outside the nation’s capital, nearly the entire Raiders roster linking arms while seated on the bench; in Charlotte, future Hall of Fame defensive end Julius Peppers remaining in the locker room during the anthem, only to take the field alone moments later.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julius Peppers now walking onto the field <a href="https://t.co/Iagr5WKgYp">pic.twitter.com/Iagr5WKgYp</a></p>— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) <a href="https://twitter.com/PanthersBill/status/911998836691931136">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="fcUYNI">“There’s only a few times in a man’s life where you have a chance to stand up for something you believe in and make a statement,” Peppers said <a href="https://twitter.com/PanthersBill/status/912049423684861953">after the game</a>. “So today I thought that was that chance, and I took it.”</p>
<p id="fu2Lnj">Other figures around around the league—from commentators to executives to owners—also made statements, but some were met with a reasonable amount of skepticism. Giving much credit to former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan or to Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft for expressing their respective disappointment with the president’s comments feels justifiably difficult given that the former campaigned on Trump’s behalf and the latter’s company donated $1 million to his inaugural committee. And there was considerable irony in the image of so many owners taking part in an extension of the protest Colin Kaepernick started nearly 14 months ago when the quarterback still can’t find work in the league. </p>
<p id="6hONb0">The most influential NFL player of the past year was nowhere to be found on Sunday, but his presence could be felt in 14 stadiums on two different continents. And as the scope of social activism in the league grows—and the list of motivations for it expands—it’s worth remembering what first sent Kaepernick to a knee during the 2016 preseason, months before Trump was elected to office. Kaepernick’s statement was a means of protesting police brutality and the way that minorities are treated in communities across the nation. Sunday’s demonstrations may have been inspired by Kaepernick, but they were also a unified showing against the intimidation methods of an attention-seeking president who’s done all that he can to make activism in the NFL another issue mostly about him.</p>
<p id="YJKeVM">Yet even if the players’ message of denouncing hatred has become more varied, a collective message still existed on Sunday, and its impact was undeniable. The fact that it was expressed on a weekend when the league’s product was at its finest—featuring a last-minute touchdown grab in New England, a game-winning 61-yard field goal in Philadelphia, and overtime heroics in Green Bay—was only a bonus. Week 3 will go down as a time when NFL players reminded the world exactly who they are and what they can be.</p>
<p id="TWXjmW">In the locker room at FedEx Field, just 14 miles from the White House, Washington cornerback Josh Norman spoke with reporters for more than 20 minutes Sunday about Trump and the action the president’s comments spurred among his team and others. Norman reiterated what so many did: that these demonstrations had nothing to do with the military or the people who have done so much to protect America’s freedoms. “It’s about what we’re being faced with right now,” <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/09/25/josh-norman-on-donald-trump-this-right-here-is-not-acceptable/?utm_term=.5024ca79ff41">Norman said</a>, “and that’s being [torn] down from <em>in</em> the White House, <em>behind</em> the podium, <em>behind</em> the presidency of the United States of America. That can’t go down.” </p>
<p id="ws06Ek">In a league where players’ voices have so often been muted, this Sunday produced a shared, booming outcry. Together, more than 200 men from 28 teams expressed that they would not stand idly by while their freedoms were threatened. Within a span of 48 hours, NFL players were challenged and given a chance to show everything that they can represent—and they took it. </p>
<h3 id="pSKKk7"><strong>The Starting 11</strong></h3>
<p id="kB2m3Y"><em>A look at 11 big story lines, key developments, and interesting tidbits from this week in the NFL.</em></p>
<p id="uGpcRN">The 1 p.m. ET slate of Week 3 games was an onslaught of ridiculous moments and “Umm … what the hell just happened?” finishes. Four outcomes were decided in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or in overtime, and three came down to the final play. And that doesn’t even include a back-and-forth contest that might have swung on a schoolyard prank. To kick off this section, let’s take a look at five small, bizarre, and pivotal moments that helped shape the day’s results.</p>
<p id="Xdwjcc"><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Texans safety Corey Moore nearly</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>picked off Tom Brady two plays before the Patriots’ game-winning touchdown. </strong>Much will be made of Houston head coach Bill O’Brien’s decision to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1 from the New England 18-yard line with 2:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. In the moment, though, the Texans’ choice to extend their lead to five points and force the Patriots to beat them with a touchdown felt understandable. For Houston, Moore’s near-interception on the seventh play of the Pats’ last drive was a more heartbreaking turning point. Brady wasn’t shy about hoisting desperation heaves down the stretch, and if Moore could have come down with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/texans-force-fumble-drop-pickoff-on-patriots-last-drive/2017/09/24/fc8ada26-a179-11e7-b573-8ec86cdfe1ed_story.html">an (admittedly tough) catch</a> before Brady completed a heave to Danny Amendola on the next play, the Pats would be 1-2 and the conversation surrounding the team this week would be very different.</p>
<p id="QQTxwn">Instead, Brady’s 25-yard bullet to Brandin Cooks in the corner of the end zone sent New England home with a 36-33 win, and the cracks in the Pats’ roster are likely to be met with healthy concern rather than an impending sense of panic. Brady finished with a gaudy stat line (25-of-35 passing for 378 yards with five touchdowns) and was predictably ice cold with the game hanging in the balance. Still, it’s worth noting that 85 of his yards came on four throws during the final drive; another 133 came on just three completions. New England’s offense was far from a picture of efficiency. It survived by gashing the Texans on a handful of big plays, and its banged-up line was overwhelmed by a Houston defensive front that sacked Brady five times.</p>
<p id="xgQrKP">Far more troubling for the Pats was their inability to slow a Texans offense that looked hapless through its first two games. Houston’s Deshaun Watson easily could have been sacked a dozen times on Sunday, but he made some seemingly impossible escapes in the backfield. Picking the best moment out of his magician act is tough, but I’ll go with his 35-yard, crossfield cannon to Ryan Griffin after somehow wiggling away from two different Patriots. </p>
<p id="GmP8QY">New England managed its own escape on Sunday, but it’s hard to come away from the game without being a little worried about the Pats and all sorts of impressed with the Texans rookie quarterback.</p>
<p id="cY26Sm"><strong>2. Lions wide receiver Golden Tate’s shocking—and correctly called—non-touchdown sealed Detroit’s 30-26 loss to Atlanta. </strong>Matthew Stafford and the Lions were inches from further solidifying their status as the NFL’s fourth-quarter comeback kings when Tate’s would-be game-winning catch was overturned on a review and a 10-second runoff then ended the game. This came after a controversial call went in the other direction, as Detroit’s final drive included a mystifying defensive holding penalty on Atlanta cornerback Desmond Trufant on a second-and-30 and negated what would have been a game-sealing interception.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Super slow-mo of the Tate TD. You can make an argument he doesn't have complete control of the ball until he crosses goal line <a href="https://t.co/MDrYrjvp6w">pic.twitter.com/MDrYrjvp6w</a></p>— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/912054550047141889">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="SGAyD8">By the time Stafford hit Tate on a slant all of that was irrelevant, though, and <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358622/golden-tate-touchdown-rules">the officials’ ruling</a> that Tate was down erased what would have been a cringe-worthy loss for the Falcons. Matt Ryan’s three-interception day looks much worse on paper than it was in reality; two of his picks came on tipped balls, including a brutal drop by Mohamed Sanu that would have given Atlanta, up 30-26, a first-and-goal with about eight minutes left to play. </p>
<p id="haiVBO">The reversal also ensured that a fantastic day from Falcons running back Devonta Freeman didn’t go to waste. Freeman finished with 21 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, and added a drive-saving 18-yard reception in the red zone that helped Atlanta punch in its first touchdown. Minus Ryan throwing a face-palm-inducing pix-sick, the Falcons continued to look a lot like the class of the NFC, while the Lions showed that their 2-0 start wasn’t a fluke.</p>
<p id="k14Kv1"><strong>3. Jake Elliott’s 61-yard miracle field goal gave the Eagles a 27-24 win over the Giants. </strong>As long as we’re discussing teams that managed to avoid stomach-churning losses by the skin of their teeth, let’s go to Philly. The Eagles defense shut out the Giants for three quarters on Sunday, but then the floodgates opened up. New York’s Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard carved up a depleted secondary down the stretch: Beckham had his way with cornerback Jalen Mills for two touchdowns, while Shepard scored from 77 yards out after exploiting a bad angle taken by safety Chris Maragos (who was replacing injured starter Rodney McLeod).</p>
<p id="y6mQcN">Philly’s defense—which also lost defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and Jordan Hicks to injury in Week 3—will be fine when healthy, but the same can’t be said about the offense. Quarterback Carson Wentz finished 21-of-31 passing for 176 yards; his longest completion went for 19, and that only came when he was forced to chuck it deep with seven seconds left in regulation. The Eagles’ passing attack hasn’t shown the growth some anticipated in Wentz’s second season, and its two biggest offensive plays came courtesy of pass interference calls on cornerback Eli Apple that went for a total of 80 yards.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL: <a href="https://twitter.com/Eagles">@Eagles</a> win on a game-winning 61-yard FG! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyEaglesFly?src=hash">#FlyEaglesFly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYGvsPHI?src=hash">#NYGvsPHI</a> <a href="https://t.co/kAexY22kBs">pic.twitter.com/kAexY22kBs</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/912055881755267072">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="ebZNUs">Yet even as Philly repeatedly tried to hand the Giants a win, Eli Manning’s bunch refused to take it. Then Elliott, a little-known rookie kicker, drilled a 61-yarder as time expired. An 0-3 start could be enough to sink the Giants’ playoff hopes, and with Manning approaching his 37th birthday, both the franchise’s short- and long-term outlooks are riddled with questions. </p>
<p id="faTiTM"><strong>4.</strong> <strong>Von Miller’s shenanigans cost the Broncos a chance to mount a game-tying drive in an eventual 26-16 loss to the Bills. </strong>Watching this happen in real time was incredible. With Denver trailing 23-16 and 7:43 left in the fourth quarter, Miller worked his way into the backfield on a third-and-8 and brought down quarterback Tyrod Taylor as he was letting go of a pass. The Bills, now facing fourth down, should’ve been forced to punt. Instead, Miller stuck his hand out for Taylor only to suddenly yank it back, like a kindergartner who’d just discovered comedy.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Von Miller is a savage <a href="https://t.co/kj9QndByL0">pic.twitter.com/kj9QndByL0</a></p>— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/AthleteSwag/status/912047553226604544">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="WgGvmr">Let’s be clear: That move at that point in the game shouldn’t warrant a flag. The only penalty in this situation should come for Miller using a joke fit for a 6-year-old. Nevertheless, the unsportsmanlike conduct call gave the Bills 15 yards and a first down, and ultimately set up a chip-shot field goal that put the game out of reach.</p>
<p id="CPySwl">Miller’s penalty aside, Buffalo was the better team all afternoon. The Bills peppered Trevor Siemian with a variety of interior blitzes and goaded the Denver quarterback into a pair of awful interceptions. After turning in two masterful showings to open the season, the Broncos looked out of sorts offensively from the start on Sunday.</p>
<p id="14rnQv"><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Bears cornerback Marcus Cooper stopping just shy of the goal line on a blocked field goal at the end of the first half prevented a touchdown in Chicago’s win over the Steelers. </strong>The experience of witnessing this while surrounded by Bears fans was profoundly strange. Everyone seemed both confused about what had happened and resigned to an “Oh, <em>those</em> Bears” attitude; it made me want to move to an Airstream in the Montana wilderness. Somehow, though, the four points the Bears threw away in the second quarter turned out not to affect the outcome.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PITvsCHI?src=hash">#PITvsCHI</a> <a href="https://t.co/gG6Ry6Uylr">pic.twitter.com/gG6Ry6Uylr</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/912022208276344832">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="BRRUpC">Thanks to the efforts of running backs Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard, Chicago knocked off a Steelers team that seemed to be sleepwalking for the entirety of a 23-17 contest. Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered all afternoon, and the Bears gouged the Steelers on the ground for four straight quarters and overtime. Howard, who gained just 7 yards on nine carries in a Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay, hammered Pittsburgh for 138 yards despite having an injured shoulder that nearly forced him to come out of the game. Cohen tacked on 102 all-purpose yards of his own, including a 36-yard run that almost went to the house two plays before Howard finished off the victory.</p>
<p id="QTB91g">Losing to an 0-2 Bears team while looking painfully sluggish is the type of egg the Steelers have occasionally laid on the road against lesser foes, but this couldn’t have been the start to the 2017 season that Pittsburgh wanted. An offense that was high-powered last year is averaging only 21.3 points per game; running back Le’Veon Bell has tallied just 236 yards from scrimmage through three weeks after totaling at least 130 in 12 of 15 games last season (including the playoffs); and receiver Martavis Bryant has yet to get much going since returning from last fall’s suspension, even dropping a potential touchdown on Pittsburgh’s first possession Sunday. The Steelers still have a ridiculous array of offensive talent, but they’re a long way off from being the scoreboard-destroying group to whom we’ve grown accustomed. </p>
<p id="Q7Vkc7"><strong>6.</strong> <strong>The Vikings have one of the best, most underrated receiving duos in the NFL. </strong>When the Buccaneers signed wideout DeSean Jackson to a three-year, $33.5 million deal this offseason, the idea was that pairing him with cornerback-destroying superhuman Mike Evans would give the team two pass catchers who could take over games on their own. That may very well happen down the road, but on Sunday it was a pair of receivers on the opposing team’s sideline who dominated a game from start to finish.</p>
<p id="csgmEM">Minnesota’s Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen dazzled in a 34-17 win, even with Case Keenum filling in for the injured Sam Bradford at quarterback. The lines for each player—eight catches for 173 yards with two scores for Diggs; five grabs for 98 yards for Thielen—were excellent, although those numbers don’t come close to explaining how great both guys were. Nearly every one of Diggs’s snags was a contested catch that required some type of show-stopping maneuver. The highlight of his first touchdown—a leaping 17-yard reception over Vernon Hargreaves III—looks fake. Combine that tandem with budding star running back Dalvin Cook, and the Vikings have one of the most dangerous collections of weapons the NFL has to offer.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stefon Diggs, ballin' today.<br><br>8 REC, 173 YDS, 2 TD.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyBowl?src=hash">#ArmyBowl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SKOL?src=hash">#SKOL</a> <a href="https://t.co/95R8TuUhsC">pic.twitter.com/95R8TuUhsC</a></p>— #ArmyBowl (@ArmyAllAmerican) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArmyAllAmerican/status/912063095358607360">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="yCX22G"><strong>7.</strong> <strong>The Jets terrorized Jay Cutler with a flurry of defensive-back blitzes, and it paid off in a convincing 20-6 win. </strong>Head coach Todd Bowles and his staff sent a continuous wave of extra rushers at Cutler all game, and it helped the Jets completely wreck the Dolphins offense. Four of Cutler’s five longest completions on Sunday came in the fourth quarter with Miami then trailing 20-0. Take those out, and Cutler went 22-of-40 for 148 yards, which comes to an average of 3.7 yards per attempt. Two of New York’s three sacks came from defensive backs Buster Skrine and Jamal Adams, and safety Terrence Brooks also took Cutler to the ground. This was an aggressive, creative plan from a team much in need of ingenuity.</p>
<p id="CnwgA5"><strong>8.</strong> <strong>Jacksonville routed the Ravens 44-7—and its Week 2 loss to the Titans suddenly doesn’t look so bad. </strong>The Jaguars found a loose thread on Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense in London, and they didn’t stop pulling it all Sunday morning. Flacco turned in a historically terrible outing—8-of-18 passing for <em>28 </em>yards and two picks—as a Jacksonville unit prone to feasting on opponents smelled blood in the water from the start. While Blake Bortles isn’t going to throw four touchdown passes every week, head coach Doug Marrone’s defense is stacked and should cause issues all fall.</p>
<p id="qaxKKN">Meanwhile, by beating the Seahawks 33-27, Tennessee proved just how lethal its offense is going to be week in and week out. Maybe the Titans’ 37-16 demolition of the Jags last Sunday said more about Tennessee’s upside than it did about Jacksonville’s flaws.</p>
<p id="SODr8f"><strong>9. This week’s line-play moment that made me hit rewind:</strong> Carl Lawson’s utter domination in Green Bay. The Bengals’ rookie pass rusher controlled Sunday’s matchup against the Packers, to the point that Aaron Rodgers and Co. escaping with a 27-24 overtime victory feels like it shouldn’t have been possible. To put it simply: Lawson ruined Green Bay’s offense for a huge chunk of the game. He finished with 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits, and seemed to be bothering Rodgers on every dropback.</p>
<p id="yq1f8t">Lawson racked up seven quarterback hurries while flashing the type of refined pass-rushing skill that made him so dangerous at Auburn. He may not be a speed demon around the edge, but his understanding of leverage and when to hit his inside counters goes well beyond his years. Lawson’s go-to move in Week 3 looked like a hybrid between a long arm and a hump move, and it sent Packers left tackle Kyle Murphy flying more than once. This guy already looks like a fourth-round steal.</p>
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<p id="KFRaTV"><strong>10.</strong> <strong>This week in </strong><em><strong>tales of the tape</strong></em><strong>:</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>A pair of the league’s top left tackles prove that big guys can move. </strong>Tennessee and Washington both used their offensive linemen’s mobility to their advantage on Sunday, turning a pair of short screens into huge gains. Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Lewan and the rest of the left side of the Titans’ line sprung Rishard Matthews for a 55-yard score in the third quarter of a win over the Seahawks, while all-world left tackle Trent Williams led the way on Chris Thompson’s back-breaking 74-yard reception in the third quarter of a 27-10 win over the Raiders. Both Lewan and Williams are among the best blindside protectors in the game; watching them smoothly navigate into space and track down guys 100 pounds lighter was a beautiful sight.</p>
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<img alt="Taylor Lewan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9LC9RqmLGSQJ-eku21e_26O-IRg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9321237/ezgif.com_video_to_gif__23_.gif">
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<p id="DHHgFD"><strong>11.</strong> <strong>This week in </strong><em><strong>NFL players, they’re absolutely nothing like us</strong></em><strong>:</strong><em><strong> </strong></em></p>
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<p class="c-end-para" id="mj6g3b">We’ve run out of ways to describe just how absurd Odell Beckham Jr. is.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/25/16360690/week-3-recap-player-protests-national-anthemRobert Mays2017-09-25T09:08:38-04:002017-09-25T09:08:38-04:00The Titans Have the Punishing Offense the Seahawks Used To
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<p>Mike Mularkey’s “exotic smashmouth” scheme overwhelmed Seattle on Sunday and has Tennessee looking like an AFC contender</p> <aside id="CeNYE7"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everything You Need to Know About NFL Week 3","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358450/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nfl-week-3"}]}'></div></aside><p id="8zqc37">Watching DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, and Marcus Mariota rack up 195 rushing yards in the Titans’ 33-27 win over Seahawks on Sunday, I kept having the same thought: This Tennessee offense reminds me of what Seattle’s offense <em>used to</em> look like. </p>
<p id="9pesSa">Through three weeks, it’s tough to see what the Seahawks are, or can be on that side of the ball. Behind a porous offensive line, Seattle hasn’t been able to establish anything resembling its signature run game or offensive rhythm, and, until the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, the passing attack hadn’t picked up any of the slack. But the Titans’ identity as a dominant and physical run team is more clear than that of just about any other franchise in the league. Over the course of four quarters, Tennessee won the battle in the trenches and wore down the Seahawks, showcasing a couple of hallmarks recent Seattle teams were known for: supreme confidence and a little bit of an attitude. When paired with its convincing performance against a tough Jaguars defense last week, this Titans squad looks like it can run all over just about anybody. </p>
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<p id="rFWEUl">The heart of the Titans’ success the past two weeks has been third-year head coach Mike Mularkey’s self-described “<a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000637166/article/mularkey-wants-to-bring-exotic-smashmouth-to-titans">exotic smashmouth</a>” offense, which has leaned on the ground game to overwhelm opponents, chew up big chunks of the clock, and generate explosive plays. Over the past two games, Tennessee has outscored its opponents 70-43 and run the ball a combined 70 times for 374 yards and four touchdowns. </p>
<p id="RNEWU9">And while Mularkey's scheme differs in many ways from what Seattle ran during Russell Wilson’s formative years as a passer from 2012 to 2015, stylistically and philosophically, there are plenty of parallels to what the Titans are doing this season—particularly in marrying physical running backs in Murray and Henry with an efficient passer in Mariota. Like Tennessee now, those Seattle offenses crafted their identity around punishing opponents with a relentless commitment to the ground game, never finishing worse than fourth in rushing yards over that four-year stretch. Those Seattle squads, like the Titans this season, mixed and matched their base run scheme with a repertoire of college-style read-option runs. They also complemented their foundational rushing attack with an efficient and explosive passing game, then threw in a few well-timed and demoralizing escapes and scrambles by their versatile signal-caller. </p>
<p id="Y0NkOH">Tennessee’s investments in its run-first approach over the past few years—including first-round picks on bookend offensive tackles Taylor Lewan (2014) and Jack Conklin (2016), a second-round pick on Henry (2016), and a big-money contract to Murray—seem to be paying off. It took the Titans two quarters to soften up Seattle’s defense Sunday—they rushed for just 30 yards on 17 carries in the first half—but short runs quickly gave way to long ones in the third quarter as the Seahawks showed signs of fatigue in the suffocating 88-degree, 97 percent-humidity Nashville heat. Tennessee pounced, scoring 21 straight third-quarter points to turn a 14-9 deficit into a 30-14 lead. </p>
<p id="ceVKqI">The mix of styles and looks the Tennessee offense can present to a defense can be both mentally and physically taxing, and the way the squad fuses the new-school with the old is a thing of beauty. On one play, the Titans will run a college-style read option, freezing unblocked defenders and forcing them to respect Mariota as a runner. On the next, they’ll run “power” looks right at you, pulling one of their big interior linemen around to kick out a defender and spring Murray or Henry for a big gain. Then they’ll mix in plenty of play-action fakes in the pass game, and even run screens to the outside, where they get their big offensive linemen out on the perimeter and bearing down on smaller defensive backs. This 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Rishard Matthews was set up by a few key blocks by Lewan and guard Josh Kline. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make 'em MISS!<a href="https://twitter.com/_RMatthews">@_RMatthews</a> with the 55-yard <a href="https://twitter.com/Titans">@Titans</a> TOUCHDOWN! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TitanUp?src=hash">#TitanUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/asCjOwZr7F">pic.twitter.com/asCjOwZr7F</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/912079927469420544">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="R2KDYE">The Titans can spread out and run three-receiver passing concepts on the one play, then follow up with a play that features a sixth offensive lineman and a tight end (lining up as a fullback) as the primary target on the next. Late in the third, Mariota found rookie Jonnu Smith on a wheel route up the sideline for a touchdown. Tennessee’s commitment to the run early in the game got Seattle linebacker Michael Wilhoite to bite hard on play-action, and Smith got in behind him for the score. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another Marcus Mariota TD pass... This one to <a href="https://twitter.com/Easymoney_81">@Easymoney_81</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TitanUp?src=hash">#TitanUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/nw3kxqcqAR">pic.twitter.com/nw3kxqcqAR</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/912081429290299392">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="TdjxsS">Tennessee scored a touchdown out of a similarly “heavy” formation later in the quarter, this time with 254-pound Jalston Fowler lining up at fullback. Fowler got the key block on Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane, opening up a running lane on the edge for Murray, who weaved his way through 75 yards for a score. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Count those blockers <a href="https://twitter.com/DeMarcoMurray">@DeMarcoMurray</a> goes 75 yards with a little help from his <a href="https://twitter.com/Titans">@Titans</a> buddies<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEAvsTEN?src=hash">#SEAvsTEN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TitanUp?src=hash">#TitanUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/OSuPp2Uw9V">pic.twitter.com/OSuPp2Uw9V</a></p>— NFL UK (@NFLUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLUK/status/912086153028788224">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="dN4R8N">That run not only illustrated Murray’s talent, but was also a microcosm of the full commitment that the Titans have given to the run game. It wasn’t just offensive linemen creating push or Fowler nearly shoving Lane out of bounds to open up a cut-back crease (and make another block on Lane again downfield); it was a few seals on defenders trying to pursue on the backside, and it was Matthews’s block on Earl Thomas about 55 yards downfield that helped spring Murray into the end zone. For that kind of play to succeed, it takes full buy-in from all 11 players on offense. That’s exactly what the Titans got, and the play put the game on ice for Tennessee. </p>
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<p id="paqrNS">It wasn’t a perfect outing for the Titans. Wilson did throw for a regular-season career-high 373 yards, and he tossed four touchdowns as the Seahawks went into fourth-quarter comeback mode. Tennessee’s pass rush failed to exploit Seattle’s terrible offensive line, sacking Wilson just once. The secondary struggled to cover in the back end, giving up big plays to Jimmy Graham, Doug Baldwin, C.J. Prosise, and Luke Willson. There are still plenty of areas in which the Titans defense must improve.</p>
<p id="tuM0C6">But against a Seahawks defense that’s more used to dishing out punishment, Tennessee was the hammer. The Titans won up front in both the run game (195 rush yards were the most Seattle’s given up <a href="https://twitter.com/MickeyRyan1045/status/912103666340986880">since 2013</a>) and in the passing attack (the offensive line <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_NateJahnke/status/912097875034873857">gave up just two pressures</a> on 37 dropbacks). Mariota looked poised when he needed to step up and make throws, completing 20 of 32 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns, and a 104.3 passer rating. In short, the offense ran exactly how it’s been designed to run. If the Titans can continue to follow that blueprint, they should be legit contenders in the AFC.</p>
<p id="B0v63L"><em>An earlier version of this story misidentified Jalston Fowler’s position. He is a fullback, not an offensive lineman.</em></p>
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/25/16360394/tennessee-titans-offense-seattle-seahawksDanny Kelly2017-09-25T08:40:10-04:002017-09-25T08:40:10-04:00How Trump Forced the NFL to Finally Acknowledge the Real World
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<p>For 80 years, the league worked to establish a culture that opposed any so-called distractions. This Sunday, players, coaches, owners, and even the commissioner brought politics into the center of their sport. </p> <aside id="FzuQZt"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everything You Need to Know About NFL Week 3","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358450/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nfl-week-3"}]}'></div></aside><p id="g5Fxe7">With every piece of news on Sunday—from the Pittsburgh Steelers refusing to come out for the national anthem to LeSean McCoy saying President Donald Trump is “acting like a jerk” to the dozens of other players and coaches who made pointed comments toward the White House—I kept coming back to a conversation I had with Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins over the offseason. </p>
<p id="4SFzDP">We were discussing so-called “distraction” culture, the fortress that NFL coaches had built up over the past 80 years to make sure that real life never seeps into the sport. Football coaches, historically, hate real life. They like third-down efficiency, pass protection, and the field goal unit being set with plenty of time left on the play clock. They don’t like outspokenness, typically. If you are not playing or preparing to play football, you run the risk of being a distraction—a word that has come to signify anything that football coaches do not like. Real life, however, is a distraction. Alabama head coach Nick Saban claimed to not know that it was Election Day … on Election Day, and he acted like this sort of single-minded focus was something to brag about. Individuals exist in real life, but individualism has been anathema in football circles. </p>
<p id="J8CVYW">Distraction culture is what kept many players and coaches from speaking out until Sunday. Distraction culture is likely the reason that Colin Kaepernick still isn’t on an NFL roster. But here’s the thing about distractions: Since they’ve come to mean “anything,” they ultimately mean “nothing.”</p>
<p id="QDO771">In <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2017/4/12/16076926/malcolm-jenkins-donald-trump-nfl-politics-activism-podcast-e59e2997446e">April</a>, Jenkins told me that the way to break down distraction culture and for political activism to take root in football is through “power in numbers.” </p>
<aside id="NlV3Em"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The NFL Responds to Donald Trump","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/23/16355992/nfl-players-owners-respond-donald-trump-comments"}]}'></div></aside><p id="Znd793">“It’s only a ‘distraction’ when one or two guys are speaking out. When all of a sudden you have a whole team of guys or a majority of a team speaking on one issue, it’s no longer a distraction: It’s a priority for that team,” Jenkins said on a podcast we did together. “Any one person—you can cut them, you can get rid of them, do whatever. When it’s a collective thing, it’s very hard to single people out. [One,] our voices … become amplified because you have more voices and they are spread across the country in different cities. Two, it gets a little more protection for guys … who want to get involved but don’t know how and are a little bit afraid of their job security.” </p>
<p id="J89owV">He was talking about eventually building a network of politically active players and supporting one another. On Friday, Trump did the work for them by referring to any NFL player who protested as a “son of bitch” who should be “fired”—and then doubling and tripling down on his stance. There is power in numbers for politically active players, and after this weekend, no one is going to be afraid for their job security. The sport—and the conversation around politics and sports—has changed. </p>
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<img alt="Ryan Anderson locks arms with Washington Redskins teammates during the national anthem" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bkanBGgVwIX1dNfxHDZxHHZwpf0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9319257/853287064.jpg">
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<p id="qAC7pO">We will look back on Sunday as the beginning of the end of an era when football teams did whatever they could to keep real life out of football. The NFL changed Sunday, perhaps permanently, perhaps just for the next few years, but it changed. It is not just that the president of the United States is in a war of words with the national pastime—watching football is essentially the only thing Americans do in large numbers anymore—and went so far as to <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16357466/donald-trump-nfl-fan-boycott-tweets">call for a fan boycott</a>. It is that Trump’s comments so stunned the football world that the risk-averse sport came out en masse against him. Earlier this month, Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-kenny-stills-protest-20170913-story.html">wondered</a> why more players weren’t speaking out against police brutality, theorizing that perhaps endorsements or contracts were holding them back. That will no longer be the case. </p>
<p id="b3oko1">The list of NFL people who came after Trump is both long and unexpected. Terry Bradshaw, of all people, owned Trump by <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/352157-fox-sports-anchor-blasts-trump-for-attacking-nfl-players">telling him to stick to politics</a>. Tennessee head coach <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonWolf/status/912103500238196737">Mike Mularkey</a> and New Orleans head coach Sean Payton both ripped Trump. Mike Mularkey! Roger Goodell, who released a vague statement Saturday, was celebrated. MSNBC host Joy Reid <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/911582661008904193">framed Goodell’s statement as</a> “claps back at Trump.” I did not know what to expect when this weekend started, but I definitely did not anticipate Goodell being accepted by The Resistance. The majority of owners then supported Goodell’s statement, ending up looking like the good guys. After a series of self-inflicted wounds in courtrooms across America with player discipline and health, the NFL league office is finally going into a battle and will come out with a positive image. Trump did something so outrageous that it united the vast majority of players, owners, coaches, and the commissioner. We are living in strange days. </p>
<p id="2PK9Dd">Not all of the moments were powerful—I am not sure what an owner locking arms with players is supposed to signify in the context of politics—but taken as a whole, Sunday was significant. Raiders owner Mark Davis <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-40002778-4">told ESPN</a> on Sunday that he’d “previously told [players] that I would prefer that they not protest while in the Raiders uniform.” He continued: “I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride. Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That’s the challenge in front of us as Americans and human beings.”</p>
<p id="NpqQ6b">This is the change happening in most NFL locker rooms: On Sunday, for perhaps the first time in league history, players weren’t expected to stay quiet. They were told they could speak out. </p>
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<p id="evsHWi">There’s a fundamental misread of the activism around the league from critics. First, as pointed out by many observers, including ESPN’s <a href="https://twitter.com/LeBatardShow/status/911947224954925056">Dan Le Batard on Sunday</a>, most players who’ve knelt or raised fists for the anthem are specifically doing so to protest police brutality. It is not a “flag protest.” They are protesting during the national anthem, but it’s not the song they are protesting; they are using a visible moment to draw attention to their causes. But the larger misread comes in thinking that this protest is the centerpiece of the players’ activism. Jenkins has <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/04/02/522357497/out-of-bounds-philadelphia-eagles-malcolm-jenkins-on-criminal-justice-overhaul">met with lawmakers</a> to push for criminal justice reform when it comes to mandatory minimums that punish nonviolent crimes with harsh prison sentences. Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, who sat during the anthem for the first game of this season, used social media to help get lawyers for a family <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/7/16265290/marcus-peters-muslim-ban-donald-trump-kansas-city-chiefs">stranded by the Muslim ban</a>. Kaepernick has handed out free suits <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/02/colin-kaepernick-hands-out-free-suits-outside-parole-office/">outside a parole office</a>. That is where most of the activism is taking place—not on the 20 or so Sundays of football season. </p>
<p id="7mXer8">It has always been strange how queasy sportswriters and commenters and fans can be around politics. The first American superstar athlete who didn’t stick to sports was the first American superstar athlete. His name was Babe Ruth, and he heartily <a href="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/davidseideman/files/2016/05/babe-ruth-al-smith-resized2.jpg?width=960">endorsed</a> Democrat Al Smith for president in 1928. (There is no record of Herbert Hoover calling Ruth a son of a bitch.) Yet it took the sports world nearly 100 years to even get somewhat comfortable with the ideas that all people have opinions. In recent years, the NBA has led the way on this: Warriors coach Steve Kerr <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/24/steve-kerr-warriors-donald-trump-white-house-stephen-curry">wrote</a> an essay on Trump on Sunday.</p>
<p id="2NbCyh">There are NFL coaches on both sides of the political spectrum, but in the past, the rank and file did not want a lot of their opinions out there. In my old job at <em>The</em> <em>Wall Street Journal</em>, a handful of coaches would try to talk politics with me, assuming that a generally conservative paper employs only conservatives. Four years ago, during a down moment in a conversation, one coach asked me if I faulted Bill Clinton for what happened in the Battle of Mogadishu. I quickly moved on. We never spoke about politics again. But this is generally a group that does not want their allegiances known (save for a few, like Bill Belichick or Rex Ryan, who were open Trump endorsers). Yet, there was not a lot of hesitation this weekend: In addition to Mularkey and Payton, <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/911887413856935936">Pete Carroll said</a> “there’s no longer a place to sit silently.”</p>
<p id="fxVpmy">There were reports of boos directed toward players at various games throughout the weekend, but any meaningful fan boycott seems far-fetched: As <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/19/16332762/watchability-fun-football-boring-quality-of-play">I’ve said before</a>, the number of people who watched NFL games did not change last season, just the amount of time they watched for. But the conversation about political activism in the sport will change. Will there be locker room problems when, say, a player like Denver’s Derek Wolfe, who publicly backed standing for the anthem and <a href="https://twitter.com/JosinaAnderson/status/911939051363717120">questioned why</a> anyone who doesn’t like America stays here, discusses the matter with a teammate who disagrees? We’ve yet to find out. Will broadcasts show the anthem at every game? What forms of protest will players turn toward next? </p>
<p id="2Vi92U">What comes next, like anything on this planet right now, remains a mystery. Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith told Jenny Vrentas on Sunday that in the future people are going to look back and realize <a href="https://twitter.com/JennyVrentas/status/912148116496936961">what kind of important change Kaepernick ushered into the sport</a>. He’s right. As <a href="https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/912168146487869440">Josh Norman said</a> after Washington’s game Sunday night, addressing Trump, “You have 1,800 men on your back now. Good luck with that.”</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="hZGz0j">I have traveled the country talking to this generation of athletes. I have heard players say they do not care if they get fired for their beliefs, and I have heard about the lengths they’ve gone to help whatever their cause is. Football just changed, and this is not a one-Sunday affair. This is real life.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/25/16359908/protest-national-anthem-colin-kaepernick-donald-trump-police-brutalityKevin Clark2017-09-25T02:18:02-04:002017-09-25T02:18:02-04:00The Winners and Losers From NFL Week 3
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<img alt="Jake Elliott and Case Keenum" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JaI_JVbNQsjDrVIFsm0IqOygReQ=/55x0:2722x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56836669/Week3WinnersLosers_Getty_Ringer.1506320281.jpg" />
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<p>The games got exciting again, Jacksonville dominated across the pond, and Odell Beckham Jr. returned to form</p> <aside id="10meyt"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everything You Need to Know About NFL Week 3","url":"https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358450/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nfl-week-3"}]}'></div></aside><p id="y7Xldg"><em>Every week this NFL season, we will celebrate the electric plays, admonish the colossal blunders, and explain the inexplicable moments of the most recent slate. Welcome to Winners and Losers. Which one are you?</em></p>
<h3 id="COu5fn">Winner: Exciting NFL Games</h3>
<p id="ZMCR0a">The first two weeks of the season brought about <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/19/16332762/watchability-fun-football-boring-quality-of-play">a narrative that the league was boring</a>. Most of the early games this season were low-scoring and lopsided, a great combination for fans who love tragedy but hate plot twists and suspense.</p>
<p id="x6HVnh">This week, the NFL got its good games back. Here’s a quick look at the best of Week 3:</p>
<p id="V59iEb">• Everybody was ready to make fun of a <em>Thursday Night Football</em> matchup between the Rams and 49ers, and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/22/rams-49ers-on-tnf-was-far-more-entertaining-than-anyone-expected/?utm_term=.0c2bf79b73aa">then it turned into a 41–39 shootout</a>, the most fun Thursday night game in recent memory.</p>
<p id="QOsXaR">• Chicago walked off with a 23–17 overtime win over the Steelers that was <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358334/bears-marcus-cooper-premature-celebration">defined by wackiness</a>.</p>
<p id="Wf4jyR">• The Falcons held off the Lions, 30–26, when <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358622/golden-tate-touchdown-rules">a potential game-winning touchdown turned into a game-ending video review</a>.</p>
<p id="oZ3ph8">• Tom Brady’s fifth and final touchdown of the game <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358790/tom-brady-patriots-comeback-texans-week-3">gave the Patriots a 36–33 win over a shockingly competitive Texans team</a>.</p>
<p id="EOEiSA">• The Giants scored 24 points in the fourth quarter, only to lose when <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16358660/jake-elliott-eagles-game-winning-61-yard-field-goal">Eagles rookie Jake Elliott blasted a 61-yard field goal to win the game for Philadelphia</a>.</p>
<p id="VzVuAc">• Aaron Rodgers <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/24/16359256/aaron-rodgers-packers-bengals-overtime-week-3">had never won a game in overtime and never beaten the Bengals</a>, but felled both monsters in a 27–24 win.</p>
<p id="F9Q8t7">At their worst, NFL games are dull filler that happen to provide answers on whether our bets hit or missed. But Sunday, the league was at its ridiculous best, providing a slew of back-and-forth battles decided by astounding plays by some of the best athletes on the planet. For a few minutes during Falcons-Lions, I almost stopped paying attention to whether or not the involved players were on any of my fantasy teams. (Almost.)</p>
<h3 id="sDzcsA">Loser: Fun</h3>
<p id="LKvzpS">The NFL relaxed its celebration rules this offseason, to much fanfare. It didn’t, however, change its taunting rules. That’s fair — the league does have an interest in curtailing taunting that could lead to on-field fights.</p>
<p id="FYaFXY">And thus, when Broncos defensive end Von Miller hit Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor with a truly <em>vicious</em> rendition of the infamous “too slow” handshake feint, officials flagged him:</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">¯\_(ツ)_/¯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsBUF?src=hash">#DENvsBUF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBills?src=hash">#GoBills</a> <a href="https://t.co/zdLlKolbWG">pic.twitter.com/zdLlKolbWG</a></p>— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) <a href="https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/912041937535852544">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="I88IUO">The call against Miller turned out to be critical. Before the penalty, the Bills were facing a fourth-and-6 and were likely going to punt the ball away to the Broncos, who trailed 23–16 with more than seven minutes to go. But the flag gave the Bills a fresh set of downs. By the time the Broncos got the ball back, they were down 10 points with three minutes remaining.</p>
<p id="fFvSun">Miller’s non-handshake was not worth penalizing. This gag doesn’t even elicit emotional reactions from children, and children have emotional reactions to basically everything<em>. </em>NFL players don’t need officials protecting them from schoolyard gags. If a critical Giants drive is derailed because a defender has convinced Eli Manning that he can join the Pen 15 Club by writing “PEN 15” on his hand, well, that’s Manning’s burden to bear.</p>
<p id="UwZJ2z">Relaxing the celebration rules was a good idea that got positive reviews from basically everyone. But there are still places where common sense could overrule the NFL’s strictly defined rulebook.</p>
<h3 id="yQtSRX">Winner: The London Jaguars</h3>
<p id="BlW3k7">In advance of their first-ever game in England, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/9/19/16336774/ravens-tweeted-and-deleted-an-photo-of-queen-elizabeth-with-ravens-facepaint">the Ravens posted an image of Queen Elizabeth wearing Ravens facepaint</a>, a quickly deleted tweet that was off-putting and possibly a violation of British law. Allow me to paraphrase a famous Baltimore poet: If you come at the queen, you best not miss.</p>
<p id="u1dGHH">The Jaguars obliterated the Ravens, 44–7. That doesn’t quite do the game justice: Joe Flacco went 8-for-18 for 28 yards with two interceptions, good for a QBR of 0.5. His two sacks for a loss of 12 yards gave Baltimore a whopping 0.8 yards per dropback before Flacco was benched. Meanwhile, Blake Bortles threw four touchdowns for the first time since 2015.</p>
<p id="8jf7Wr">Up 37-nil, the Jags ran a fake punt, for no reason other than to continue their pure, unbridled humiliation of the Ravens. It went for 58 yards:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DOUG MARRONE IS A SAVAGE.<br>NFG<br>4th and 1 Fake Punt up 37-0<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jaguars?src=hash">#Jaguars</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavensFlock?src=hash">#RavensFlock</a> <a href="https://t.co/MQS0ja02LC">pic.twitter.com/MQS0ja02LC</a></p>— Brian Chojnacki (@BroadcastingBri) <a href="https://twitter.com/BroadcastingBri/status/911981120027287553">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="6RsRtj">Jacksonville has won its last three “home” games in London while going 7–25 stateside since 2015. Perhaps the team is more used to the oddities of an international game-week than their opponents; perhaps Wembley Stadium is secretly the most fearsome home field in the NFL. Perhaps Bortles has grown tired of a life lived entirely within central-to-north Florida and yearns for his annual trip to the land of mushy peas and jellied eels. Regardless, the Jags are England’s greatest football team. Give Jacksonville the Intercontinental Belt.</p>
<h3 id="mPKbD6">Loser: Bill O’Brien</h3>
<p id="eNVj7K">The Texans nearly did something magical. Starting rookie Deshaun Watson on the road against Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, Houston almost got a win. They <em>almost</em> got a win instead of won because Brady threw a touchdown pass — his fifth of the game — with 23 seconds remaining to give New England a 36–33 lead and the victory.</p>
<p id="B1VRBw">But the Pats had the opportunity to go on a game-winning drive only because Houston coach Bill O’Brien allowed New England to have it. O’Brien’s Texans had a fourth-and-1 from New England’s 18-yard line with 2:28 left and a two-point lead. Fourth-and-1 is overselling it: The Texans needed about a foot to pick up the first down. O’Brien opted to kick a field goal to take a five-point lead rather than fight for a new set of downs and the potential to score a touchdown.</p>
<p id="bpAs4h">The Texans had two ways to seal the win: bleed the clock or push their lead from one possession to two. Kicking a field goal accomplished neither of these. The decision to take the points was also the decision to give New England the ball with more than two minutes remaining in a one-score game.</p>
<p id="778G3Z">Sure, the Patriots might have stopped Houston on fourth-and-short, and then needed only three points to win the game. But if you’re a coach, what should you have more faith in? Your team’s ability to gain a single foot? Or your team’s ability to stop one of the best quarterbacks of all time from scoring a touchdown in a clutch situation at home? Going for it on fourth down sounds risky, but I think giving Tom Freakin’ Brady the ball with plenty of time in a one-possession game is much riskier.</p>
<h3 id="X6EzL4">Winner: Case Keenum</h3>
<p id="07Ixkj">Murder was the case for the Vikings, as the sixth-year quarterback had 369 yards and three touchdowns while throwing no interceptions and taking no sacks in a 34–17 win over the Buccaneers. Watch this video of Keenum highlights if you can stand to hear the Vikings’ <em>gjallarhorn </em>blaring every time Keenum hits a big play, which happens quite often, because it’s a highlights video:</p>
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<p id="1LX77C">Seriously, I hope the actual Vikings didn’t play that stupid horn so much while pillaging enemies. That would’ve added insult to injury. Have some class.</p>
<p id="VG8taj">Sure, a lot of Keenum’s success was due to third-year wideout Stefon Diggs, who snagged balls over, under, and behind defenders all day long, finishing with 173 yards and two touchdowns. But, like, Keenum looked kinda good.</p>
<p id="xCCzDT">This is the second time a Vikings QB has stunned the NFL with an uncharacteristically brilliant passing performance this season. In Week 1, checkdown king Sam Bradford <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/11/16292968/sam-bradford-vikings-saints-week-1">boomed bomb after bomb</a> past the Saints. It wasn’t what we expected from Bradford, but hey, it was Week 1. Maybe this was Bradford’s new look.</p>
<p id="DFv7vB">Then Bradford hurt his knee, and we presumed all was lost. Keenum is the Vikings’ third choice ; he’s subbing in for Bradford, who himself is the long-term replacement for the perhaps permanently injured Teddy Bridgewater. And things looked bleak: Week 2 against the Steelers, Keenum managed just 4.5 yards per attempt. But then he more than doubled that Sunday, averaging 11.2 yards per attempt in one of the best performances of the week.</p>
<p id="PQxYt5">I wish no injury on Keenum. But I am super curious to see how many weeks it would take the Vikings to get Keenum’s backup — an undrafted rookie named Kyle Sloter whom I have never heard of even though I write extensively about college football — up to speed.</p>
<h3 id="hJAemT">Winner: Fans of Every Team Besides the Chargers</h3>
<p id="yJefhB">There are a lot of reasons to be disappointed by the Chargers’ move to Los Angeles. The team abandoned its fan base in San Diego because the franchise’s owners and the league make more money if the Chargers play in Los Angeles. It’s the worst of sports: owners choosing an enormous pile of cash over tens of thousands of fans who have spent their entire lives rooting for a team.</p>
<p id="75gYwO">But hey, enough about the negatives. Why don’t we focus on the positives — like the fact that with no Chargers fans in Los Angeles, every Chargers home game is an opportunity for another team’s fan base to take over the smallest stadium any NFL team has called home in decades, an intimate, unique environment to watch your team win. Philip Rivers commented that the Dolphins had “a lot” of fans at StubHub Center after the team’s home opener, and Sunday, Chiefs fans practically owned the place in their team’s 24–10 win.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Live from Los Angeles, Chiefs fans have taken over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash">#ChiefsKingdom</a> <a href="https://t.co/tXbY2zeAuw">pic.twitter.com/tXbY2zeAuw</a></p>— Keller Weiler ♚ (@kellerweiler) <a href="https://twitter.com/kellerweiler/status/912097483072794625">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Touchdown <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs">@Chiefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chiefs?src=hash">#chiefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kansascitychiefs?src=hash">#kansascitychiefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kcchiefs?src=hash">#kcchiefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chargersvchiefs?src=hash">#chargersvchiefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chiefskingdom?src=hash">#chiefskingdom</a> <a href="https://t.co/drHaBUkeN4">pic.twitter.com/drHaBUkeN4</a></p>— Caleb Kaltenbach (@calebwilds) <a href="https://twitter.com/calebwilds/status/912054010093330432">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="pwg5tc">The Chargers left their home so that the NFL’s other 31 teams can occasionally play home games in Los Angeles. Everybody wins! Well, everybody wins except the Chargers, I guess — they’re 0–3. At least the team’s owners are still rich.</p>
<h3 id="ZgrLyb">Loser: The Jets</h3>
<p id="nWdHQ3">No, they didn’t lose ; in fact, they whupped the absolute hell out of the Dolphins, taking a 20–0 lead before Miami scored a meaningless touchdown on the game’s final play. The Dolphins played just about the worst game in the NFL this season, punting on their first seven possessions before running a fake punt on their eighth. (The punter threw an interception.)</p>
<p id="Tswmoc">But Winners and Losers isn’t about simple game results. It’s about the grand scheme of things, and <em>WHAT ARE YOU DOING, NEW YORK JETS? </em>At 1–2, New York has relinquished the driver’s seat in their ultimate quest this season: to get the no. 1 pick. The Jets now have a better record than the 49ers, Bengals, Browns, Chargers, and Giants. <em>The Giants. </em>You realize how this is going to go down, right? The Jets, stripped of every valuable asset, are going to go 2–14, and the Giants are going to go 1–15 and take the quarterback for whom the Jets have spent most of the decade tanking. It’s destiny.</p>
<h3 id="nxRUpc">Winner: Odell Beckham Jr.</h3>
<p id="Fz1WcO">Through three weeks, it’s pretty clear the Giants don’t have much of an offense. They scored zero touchdowns on <em>Sunday Night Football</em> against Dallas in <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/11/16286132/new-york-giants-eli-manning-offensive-struggles-against-dallas-cowboys">Week 1</a>, with Beckham out of the lineup. They had one touchdown in <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/19/16331864/new-york-giants-week-2-boring">Week 2</a> against the Lions on <em>Monday Night Football</em>. And in Week 3, they didn’t score for the first 47 minutes of game time, until their first possession of the fourth quarter.</p>
<p id="MpQWiT">And then Odell Beckham did some stuff. His first touchdown was this brilliant toe-tapper at the back of the end zone:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Odell Beckham somehow froze his body in mid air so that he could keep both feet inbounds <a href="https://t.co/JyUMOaWDS4">pic.twitter.com/JyUMOaWDS4</a></p>— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) <a href="https://twitter.com/OllieConnolly/status/912035951983120384">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="AzwHgu">Two minutes later, he made a one-handed touchdown catch:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yet another beautiful one-handed touchdown snag by Odell Beckham Jr. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash">#Giants</a> <a href="https://t.co/po4MN4Gx0m">pic.twitter.com/po4MN4Gx0m</a></p>— Snack Time Fantasy (@Snack_TimeFS) <a href="https://twitter.com/Snack_TimeFS/status/912038142768582656">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="0HT3oq">After his first touchdown, he peed like a dog:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Odell Beckham pretending to be a peeing dog is really what this day needed <a href="https://t.co/POmzWtdSzM">pic.twitter.com/POmzWtdSzM</a></p>— Dave Lozo (@davelozo) <a href="https://twitter.com/davelozo/status/912036376144744450">September 24, 2017</a>
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<p id="OfJmwB">That drew a flag. I’m a bit confused why ; <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2017/5/23/16036610/nfl-celebration-rules-roger-goodell-b4d9020a2ee0">under the NFL’s new celebration rules, most celebrations are OK</a>, except for violent and “sexually suggestive” ones. Does the NFL think peeing is sex? Why would they think that? Should I ask?</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="T280Oz">Beckham’s critics argue that his antics — occasional celebration penalties, emotional sideline outbursts, a boat trip with his teammates whose names everybody forgot for some reason — make him too big of a headache to handle. Never mind how intensely dull a human would have to be to dislike a tremendous talent whose biggest flaw is harmless methods of entertaining himself. Games like Sunday’s prove how silly that line of thinking is. Beckham is capable of single-handedly breathing life into an offense without a competent quarterback, offensive line, or running game. Sure enough, New York tabloids <a href="https://twitter.com/BackPageGuyNYDN/status/912170412867571712">are focusing on Beckham’s faux pas</a> — faux piss? — <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/giants-odell-beckham-jr-refuses-grow-article-1.3518586?cid=bitly&utm_content=buffer32908&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=wpakutka+twitter">more than anything else</a>, as if Beckham’s lone penalty somehow cost his team the game. The truth is the Giants have two choices: Beckham occasionally picking up penalties after scoring touchdowns, or nobody scoring touchdowns ever.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/9/25/16359906/week-3-winners-and-losersRodger Sherman