Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined comment Sunday when asked by reporters about why he did not remove his hat during the playing of the national anthem last month.
The NFL owner’s critics widely circulated a video showing Jones standing for the anthem at the opening of training camp in Oxnard, California, highlighting his failure to remove his baseball cap out of respect for the nation’s song, Pro Football Talk reported.
"No, no, no," said Jones, who has been outspoken in his feelings on national anthem conduct in recent weeks.
Jones wore his hat during the playing of the national anthem at Cowboys training camp late last month.
In the preceding week, he told reporters that, regardless of the league's policy, the Cowboys would require to stand during the pre-game rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, "toe on the line." His son, team executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones, added in a radio interview the following day that players would stand during the anthem "if they want to be a Dallas Cowboy."
NFL players have kneeled and raised fists during the national anthem as a means of protesting police brutality and racial injustice, while critics — including President Donald Trump — have decried the demonstrations as unpatriotic.
A rule change that passed in May would have required players to stand during the anthem if they were on the field or remain in the locker room, but the league and NFL Players' Association are currently re-examining that policy after the union filed a grievance.
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