Kenny Stills kneeled in protest during the national anthem

Thursday White Bryan Anger Jersey , and said he offered a prayer of thanks that he had a teammate's support.Stills and two other Miami Dolphins renewed their protests before an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, triggering yet another round of debate about the divisive NFL issue.Receivers Stills and Albert Wilson kneeled behind teammates lined up standing along the sideline. Defensive end Robert Quinn stood and raised his right fist, as he did during the anthem last season with the Los Angeles Rams.Stills said he didn't coordinate with Wilson, who joined the Dolphins this season."It just happened that way," Stills said. "When I'm on a knee, most of the time I'm praying, and thank God for having Albert next to me. Being a part of this protest hasn't been easy. I thought I was going to be by myself out there. Today I had an angel with me with Albert being out there. I'm grateful he sees what's happening, and he wants to do something about it as well."Stills kneeled during the anthem in the 2016-17 seasons and has been vocal discussing social injustice issues that inspired the protests by NFL players.Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a leader of the movement, tweeted support for Stills and Wilson."My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee," the tweet said. "Albert Wilson joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!"Kaepernick and his former teammate Eric Reid, another protest leader, remain out of the NFL. Stills said both players were blackballed, and he talks with Kaepernick every week."I appreciate his loyalty and support," Stills said. "I don't see any reason he and Eric Reid shouldn't be in the league."Wilson said he kneeled mindful of the death of an unarmed black motorist who was shot by police in 2016 near his hometown of Fort Pierce, Florida. Two officers were cleared by a grand jury in the case."Getting shot down and being murdered — the biggest thing in my city Youth O. J. Howard Jersey ," Wilson said. "For me to have so much love for my city and not do anything about it, I would be a coward. I'm with it every Sunday."Quinn said it's slander to say he and kneeling players are protesting the flag."As a black man in this world, I've got an obligation to raise awareness," he said. "If no one wants to live in unity, that's why we're in the situation we're in."The league and the players' union have yet to announce a policy for this season regarding demonstrations during the anthem after the league initially ordered everyone to stand on the sideline when "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played, or remain in the locker room. The Dolphins issued a statement before training camp saying all options regarding the team's policy remain open."The NFL has been engaged in constructive discussions with the NFL Players Association regarding the anthem and issues of equality and social justice that are of concern to many Americans," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email. "While those discussions continue, the NFL has agreed to delay implementing or enforcing any club work rules that could result in players being disciplined for their conduct during the performance of the anthem."Meanwhile, there has been no change in the NFL's policy regarding the national anthem. The anthem will continue to be played before every game, and all player and non-player personnel on the field at that time are expected to stand during the presentation of the flag and performance of the anthem. Personnel who do not wish to do so can choose to remain in the locker room."We remain committed to working with the players to identify solutions and to continue making progress on important social issues affecting our communities."There were no apparent demonstrations by the Buccaneers.Bucs’ Veterans Setting The Tone On Defense It was a typical run play, Marcus Mariota hands the ball off to Dion Lewis, who tucks the ball away and accelerates through the middle of the Titans’ offensive line.They get a good push up front, allowing enough room for Lewis to squirt through. It looked as if Lewis was about to break one for a big gain, but as soon as the metaphorical - and redundantly used phrase - door opened, it was slammed shut by Bucs’ safety Chris Conte.Conte absolutely leveled Lewis and the end result was a loud POP! which drew gasps from a crowd of Titan fans over thirty yards away. Sure enough, the first scuffle of this week’s joint practices broke out and everyone from players to coaches to Titans’ General Manager Jon Robinson were on the field attempting to deescalate the situation. “I wasn’t trying to blow him up or anything White Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey , I was just trying to fit the run and things happen,” Conte explained. “I wasn’t trying to hurt him or do anything out of line. I was just trying to thud him up like how we practice. Things happen like that, but we also hope we can make some more plays during the game.” One of multiple defenders who stood out for the Bucs this week, Conte is being counted on early and often in camp due to injuries in the secondary. The defensive line has taken some hits as well with injuries to Vita Vea and Mitch Unrein, leaving the vets along the line to carry the team just like Conte.They were up to the task. Jason Pierre-Paul, Kwon Alexander, Conte, and others made play after play during all facets of both practices. Pierre-Paul and Taylor Lewan’s battles were fun enough just to watch on their own, as each player went after the other, battling and jawing to find out who is the superior player of the two, Lewan will be a great test for JPP this weekend Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesOne player that wasn’t even mentioned on that list was Gerald McCoy. Although he didn’t make many plays during practice, his presence was still felt. He knows what he is capable of - so does the rest of the NFL - and realizes the value in the nuances of the game during the preseason.“My dad always raised me as, don’t try and make plays, do the things it takes to make plays, and that’s just playing technique,” McCoy told me. “That’s doing your job well within the scheme of the defense and that’s all I’m gonna do Saturday. I’ll carry over what we did in practice to the game.”Just like the other veterans on defense http://www.authenticstampabaybuccaneers.com/cheap-chandler-catanzaro-jersey , he knows how important these joint practices are to not only break the monotony of training camp, but the fact that it’s one step closer to actual game play that can provide a foundation for the season. “For me, personally, it was good to go up against a different cadence, a different look. Compared to a game, practice is more of a controlled situation where you can get some good work in,” McCoy said. “You get to see what you need to fix, adjust, and you just kind of stack it, stack it, stack it. And then, you are able to see how it carries over into the game and keep stacking it as you go into the season.” Gerald McCoy is primed for a big year Photo by Mark Brown/Getty ImagesThe Bucs’ front seven is loaded with veterans who tore after Mariota and Blaine Gabbert on both Wednesday and Thursday. The hope is that it’s a sign of things to come, which would be a tremendous improvement to the league’s worst pass-rush a year ago. As mentioned earlier, however, not everything is golden on the defensive side of the ball. Due to some injuries at corner, safety Justin Evans has been working in the slot in nickel formations- while learning the position - and rookie Jordan Whitehead has seen plenty of action http://www.authenticstampabaybuccaneers.com/cheap-donovan-smith-jersey , too. For Evans, it’s not a steep learning curve at his new position, but more of an adjustment that simplytakes some time to get used to. “It’s just different,” Evans said when referring to his new position, “I’m used to playing safety, I know all my checks. At nickel, I know most of it too, but it just takes a few reps to fully understand the position. It’s trial and error.”Even though it’s only his second year, Evans already has the mentality of fellow veteran teammates such as JPP. In order to create as many mismatches as possible along the line, the Bucs have been lining him up on the inside in order to bring extra edge rushers when needed and to take advantage of Pierre-Paul’s excellent run defense.Both players are willing to do whatever is needed from them to help the team succeed and in theory, that is excellent news.Right now, the veterans are doing exactly what they need to do, which is make plays and dominate. Let’s see if McCoy and Co. can “stack it” and carry it over into not only Saturday night’s game, but the regular season as well.