LA Rams Male Cheerleaders Will Make History At This Year's Super Bowl

The LA Rams cheerleaders (screen capture)

Last Spring, I reported on Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron becoming the first male cheerleaders to dance in the NFL when they auditioned and made the Los Angeles Rams cheer squad.

The 2018 season marked the first time men danced at NFL games as part of the official cheer squads. Jinnies and Peron joined the Rams, and Jesse Hernandez joined the New Orleans Saints cheerleaders.

Other teams, like the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts have had men on their cheer squads but they acted primarily as stunt men, not dancers, lifting the female cheerleaders.

Jinnies, Peron and Hernandez have been getting down doing the same dance routines as the ladies, albeit without pompoms.

Still can’t belive I’m one of the first males in history to be a pro NFL cheerleader! Everyone’s support and love has been insane! thank you and GO RAMS! @RamsNFL @LARamsCheer #LARams pic.twitter.com/srpkYiVmEI

— Napoleon Jinnies (@NapoleonJinnies) March 27, 2018

Now, with the Rams heading to the Super Bowl, that means more history in the making as the guys are set to become the first-ever male cheerleaders to dance at a Super Bowl.

Quentin Peron, Napoleon Jinnies and Emily Leibert for the LA Rams 

The men appeared alongside their coach, Emily Leibert, on Good Morning America today. They say heading to the Super Bowl as part of their first season with the team “feels like a fairy tale.”

"It's been a crazy 10 months,” said Jinnies. “Dancing hard and really engaging with our community and our team and supporting our players. I can't believe that we made it to this point, so I'm pretty sure it's showing off that we've been working pretty hard."

Aye Napoleon, you think Atlanta is ready for us? ... NAHHHHHH .. WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL! pic.twitter.com/oWFAElcw61

— Quinton Peron (@Qperon) January 21, 2019

2018 first male cheerleaders in the NFL

2019 first male cheerleaders dancing at the Super Bowl.

I can’t breath

— Napoleon Jinnies (@NapoleonJinnies) January 21, 2019

When asked what surprised them the most about their first season, “How crazy our fans are,” said Peron. “We have the best fans ever!”

Leibert gushed about how easily the guys integrated into the squad, saying, “Having these two on the team has been really incredible, and to work community events with them to see the way they’ve been embraced by our fans is pretty unbelievable.”

“They’re extraordinary in that they are trailblazers but they are also totally normal teammates,” she added. “They fit right in.”

The guys share that they’ve heard from men across the country “who are so excited to try out!” And not just adults but younger guys who plan to try out for their junior high and high school cheer teams.

Peron and Jinnies are clearly feeling high on life right now, and they should be.

The Super Bowl featuring the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots airs on CBS, February 3 at 3:30pm EST.

Watch the GMA appearance below.

Aaron Hernandez' Gay Lover Comes Forward: "We Didn't Want People To Know"

Aaron Hernandez (image via Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall)

In April of 2017, former NFL player Aaron Hernandez committed suicide while incarcerated at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts.

The 27-year-old was serving time after having been found guilty of the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013.

In the aftermath of his death, scores of news stories explored possible reasons why the former New England Patriots player would take his own life.

In march of this year, a documentary titled Aaron Hernandez Uncovered on Oxygen featured his former lawyer saying, “This man was clearly gay.”

Now, Hernandez’s boyhood friend, Dennis SanSoucie, has come forward claiming to be Hernandez’s on-again/off-again gay lover.

Speaking to the Boston Globe, SanSoucie says the relationship began in middle school and continued through high school.

During their time in high school, the two became a power duo on the football field with SanSoucie as quarterback and Hernandez as receiver.

In their junior year of high school, SanSoucie connected with Hernandez for 67 passes for a total of 1,807 yards, a Connecticut high school record.

But SanSoucie tells the Globe that there was a completely different, secret life the two led outside of football.

SanSoucie shares that they would get high on marijuana often - before school, before football practice and before games.

It was during this time the two began a physical relationship as well, keeping the secret between themselves.

“Me and him were very much into trying to hide what we were doing,” SanSoucie shares with the Globe. “We didn’t want people to know.”

SanSoucie says that growing up in the traditional, conservative community of Bristol, the idea of being openly gay would not have played well. SanSoucie was heading into the military after graduation and Hernandez was bound for football glory.

The Globe report also indicates that anything ‘gay’ would have been extremely difficult at home. Hernandez’s brother Jonathan shares that their dad had been “deeply homophobic.”

He recalls Aaron coming home one day and announcing he wanted to be a cheerleader. The dad shut that idea down quick, according to Jonathan.

‘Faggot’ was used all the time in our house,” says Jonathan. “All the time. Standing. Talking. Acting. Looking. It was the furthest thing my father wanted you to even look like in our household. This was not acceptable to him.”

The Globe also reports that both Jonathan Hernandez and George Leontire (Aaron Hernandez’s former lawyer) say that Aaron had hinted at having been the victim of sexual abuse as a child. But neither identify who that person would have been.

Now out and living in Las Vegas, SanSoucie says he believes Aaron would be proud of him for coming forward now.

“I really truly feel in my heart I got the thumbs-up from him,” he said.

(h/t Boston Globe)

Donald Trump Retweets His Followers Praising Him

Donald Trump spent some of his 'executive time' this morning retweeting praise from his followers.

One tweet he especially liked used a photo of the Trumpster wrapped in a flag proclaiming, "Thank God for Trump!"

He also took a swipe at the NFL as some players over the opening weekend of the new season took a knee during the playing of the national anthem.

Trump tweeted that viewership is down 13%, but he wasn't quite accurate.

From Philly.com:

CBS had its best opening NFL single-header rating in three years, drawing an average overnight household rating of 10.6 on its slate of five regional single-header games. That's up 23 percent compared to CBS' slate of games in Week 1 last year.

FOX averaged an 8.9 overnight rating on its 1 p.m. regional games, up six percent compared to last year. In its 4 p.m. national window, which featured the Carolina Panthers defeating the Dallas Cowboys, Fox garnered a 15.7 overnight rating, up slightly from last year.

In fact, Panthers-Cowboys drew the second-highest overnight Week 1 ratings in that national window since 2014, and it's the seventh-highest number since 2004, according to Sports Media Watch.

What Trump failed to include is that most other programming, including scripted television shows, have seen drops in their viewership as streaming services like Hulu and Netflix continue to garner more and more customers.

Thank god for Trump! pic.twitter.com/bnPaMHW3tB

— America First (@trueamerica1st) September 9, 2018

Thank you @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/fpFwNqw5id

— America First (@trueamerica1st) September 9, 2018

STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM! pic.twitter.com/oHk86YNi0v

— The Trump Train 🚂🇺🇸 (@The_Trump_Train) September 9, 2018

First Male NFL Cheerleader Makes His Debut With New Orleans Saints

Jesse Hernandez of the New Orleans Saintsations

This season will mark the first time in decades that men will be joining the ranks of NFL cheerleader squads.

First to make his debut was 25-year-old Jesse Hernandez who took to the field of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this past Friday for the New Orleans Saints preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.

According to Nola.com, for many the historic moment came and went without fanfare although one woman interviewed in the stadium crowd offered her support saying, “If he can dance and perform, I don’t care.”

Another woman chimed in saying, “I think it’s awesome.”

Watch video of Hernandez’s debut below.

Also in the supportive category is Jesse’s mom, Tracey Hernandez, who drove hours to attend her son’s debut performance.

The New Orleans Advocate’s Ramon Antonio Vargas profiled Jesse’s mother in an interview that underscored her total support for her son.

In the interview, she also admitted that Jesse had experienced bullying and harassment for a long time going back to when he became the first male to make his high school dance team in his hometown of Maurice, La. years ago.

“Those people just need to get over it,” Mama Hernandez said. “We’re in 2018. Things shouldn’t be just for men or just for women. If you have the ability to do it, you should be able to do it.”

Some Facebook comments to the Advocate article confirmed her concerns.

From The New Orleans Advocate:

Based on the Facebook comments on Vargas’ story, Tracey Hernandez’s fears were realized. One he-man dismissed Jesse as a “gay bait prancing around like a fairy.” “That’s no man,” someone else said. Another ALL-CAPS guy said it was ‘THE NFL PUSHING THE PUSSYCRAT POLE SMOKING ETHICS,” whatever that means.

Other comments: “Homo.” “Pantywaist.” “Sick libturd bullshit.” “What male football fan wants some queer prancing around with the women?” “I'm surprised he hasn't set off the fire alarms in the Superdome.”

None of that mattered to Hernandez, though, as he took to the field wearing black skinny jeans and a black/white t-shirt with a fleur de lis.

On a personal note, I should add that in my senior year of high school the cheerleading squad looked to add male cheerleaders, and of course, I tried out and got one of the four slots.

I loved cheering. It was fun to stand on a football field in front of sports fans yelling my head off, performing cheers and routines and getting a whole lot of teen tension worked out.

Along the way, the experience impacted my social life at school as I found myself spending lots of time with students I'd gone to school with for years but never got to know.

Many were totally open to the inclusion of men on the squad. However, one of the other GUYS was a total douche to me throughout the year. He'd call me "faggot" on the football field and took any chance he could to ridicule me.

Even though I didn't really know who "I was" yet, it was those moments that helped me learn to cope with years of homophobia. And part of what I learned was - people learn to accept 'new' things far better than we think.

My years as a cheerleader (when I got to Syracuse University, I cheered for three years including being captain) taught me a lot about leadership and social interaction.

And then there's the fact that I really enjoyed being in front of a crowd/audience ;)

Props to Jesse Hernandez and to LA Rams cheerleaders Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies, who will make their debut shortly.

In the video below, Hernandez chats about why he decided to try out for the Saintsations prior to his being cast as a new “Saintsation.”

p.s. ok, just ONE pic from my cheerleader days at Syracuse University... :)

Trump Rants - Again - At NFL Players Peaceful Protest

Donald Trump

Donald Trump couldn't resist ranting at NFL players who took a knee during a preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018

.....Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018

From HuffPost:

The Miami Dolphins’ Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson both knelt during the anthem ahead of their preseason opener game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Miami Herald sports reporter Adam Beasely.

It was a show of solidarity with the ongoing protests against police brutality and racial injustice, launched by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a ban on the kneeling protests in May, but plans to enforce it were put on hold after the NFL Players Association filed a grievance against the new policy.

Kaepernick applauded the Dolphins players for their protest of “systemic oppression.”

My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee. Albert Wilson @iThinkIsee12 joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!✊🏾
📸 @footcandles#imwithkap #imwithereid #takeaknee pic.twitter.com/LimoadfUcW

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 10, 2018

Players kneel, raise fists during national anthem at NFL preseason games https://t.co/kwZKPYoo5x pic.twitter.com/mwcaFuc3Rh

— New York Post (@nypost) August 10, 2018

NFL Owners Vs. Military Veterans On New #TakeTheKnee Rule

(Colin Kaepernick - photo credit: Brook Ward)

This week, the NFL announced new rules regarding players "taking a knee" during the national anthem at NFL games.

The new options are: Stay in the locker room until after the anthem, or come out and stand - no taking a knee in peaceful protest. Those who do will be fined according to the NFL.

The practice was begun by quarterback Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality against African-Americans.

Donald Trump got involved and re-framed the issue saying the players are purposefully disrespecting the flag and anthem. He's wrong.

Experts say the rule change is illegal because the league adopted its new policy without bargaining with the players union. When employees, including football players, are represented by a union, the employer — including a football league — can’t change the terms of employment without discussing the change with the union.

The folks at Buzzfeed put the owners' statements alongside those of actual veterans who put their lives on the line for Americans to have the right to protest peacefully.

I'll weigh in with this: this country was founded on the freedom to express ourselves in a peaceful manner. While some folks may buy Trump's fake framing of the issue - that taking a knee is meant as a direct hit on our flag and anthem - the facts show it's not the truth.

And, as you'll see below, plenty of military veterans are open about the fact that they can love our flag AND support Americans exercising their constitutional right to peacefully protest.

Watch below.

"If you think I joined the #USNavy so NFL football players can kneel in protest of racial injustice, you would be correct. #TakeTheKnee" pic.twitter.com/Y31FwME7se

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) May 26, 2018

News Round-Up: May 25, 2018

(image via kenneth-in-the-212)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I don't know who this guy is, but Kenneth-in-the-212 found him and I just had to look at him some more... ;)

• Even with the recent announcement that the NFL will fine players who take a knee during the national anthem, New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson says he'll pay any fine levied against his players.

• Out country artist Ty Herndon talks about the upcoming Concert for Love & Acceptance.

• LGBTQ people are leaving hostile countries in Asia for the more accepting lands of New Zealand.

• George Takei says he bears no ill will towards his accuser who has now walked back his accusation that Takei sexually assaulted him almost 40 years ago.

• Here's the setup: On the UK series Celebrity Juice, TV personality Mark Wright and comedian Joel Dommett complete an obstacle course while passing a banana between their mouths because...?

Who cares?

News Round-Up: May 23, 2018

Blake McGrath

Some news items you might have missed:

• Canadian dancer and choreographer Blake McGrath looking chill in Miami Beach (above). Check out his Instagram for videos of his ah-mahz-ing choreography.

• Netflix's series 13 Reasons Why has come under fire for a controversial, graphic male rape scene.

• A Boy Scout and his dad were kicked out of a hardware store because the store employee doesn't "support homos."

• One of the gay men Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue a marriage license to in 2015, David Ermold, lost his bid to challenge Davis for her office.

• A federal judge in Virginia has sided with transgender student Gavin Grimm over the rights of trans students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

• The NFL has announced a new policy that will fine teams an undetermined amount if players on the field fail to stand during the national anthem played before the start of the game. Players who wish to protest will be allowed to remain in the locker room.

• Check out Jess Glynne's new single, "I'll Be There." Glynne is the first-ever British female to earn six #1 UK singles. I've previously featured her collaboration "Real Love" with Clean Bandit on The Randy Report. Hit play below.

Podcast: ACLU Sues Ohio Over Trans Birth Certificates; "Roseanne" Reboot Gives LGBTs Pause; NFL Gets 1st Male Cheerleaders

In this week's podcast:

• The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the state of Ohio for the state’s policy that bars transgender people from changing their birth certificates.

• There will be NO questions about LGBTs in the 2020 Census

• "Roseanne" returned to TV this week but folks are conflicted about watching

• The NFL will have its first male cheerleaders in the upcoming season

• "Queer Eye" reboot has been renewed for a 2nd season

• Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility. I explain why we observe the day each year.

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

Breaking Barriers: Two Men Become 1st NFL Cheerleaders

For the first time in NFL history, two men will become cheerleaders for an NFL team.

Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron will be part of the L.A. Rams cheerleaders squad for the 2018/2019 season.

All smiles on Good Morning America, Peron was asked what motivated him to try out: “I thought, ‘Why not me? Why can’t I do this?’ And called my friend and I asked her when auditions were for the Rams and she told me Sunday [March 11] and I showed up.”

Appearing with the men, LA Rams cheerleader captain Emily Leibert extolled the men's qualifications:

“They really just fit the bill to be a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader. They are intelligent, they are eloquent, they are more than qualified to be ambassadors out in the community. They bring so much energy and there’s something so magnetic about their performance, you really can’t take your eyes off them.”

Full disclosure - in my senior year of high school, the cheerleading coach decided to add 4 guys to what had been an all-girl squad for decades. Just like Quinton, I thought "I want to do that!"

And I did. And had a ball.

When I got to Syracuse University, by a fluke, I happened to be in the university gym when the cheering squad was practicing and I stopped to watch. Eventually, I walked over to say 'hi,' and found out they had just lost a male team member. And, in a rarity for a freshman, I got the spot.

I cheered three years for the Orangemen and was captain of the squad my last year. It was thrilling to be on the grounds of the Carrier Dome cheering during football and basketball games.

If you're a high energy guy in your college years, it's a great way to burn some of that off. I loved it.

You can check out their amazing dancing at the tryouts and see the moments they discovered they made the cut:

Running Back Derrius Guice Was Asked If He "Liked Men" At NFL Combine

Derrius Guice

USA Today is reporting that former LSU running back Derrius Guice was asked by one team at the NFL Scouting Combine about his sexuality, and another actually suggested his mother was a prostitute.

‘’It was pretty crazy," Guice said in an interview on the SiriusXM NFL show Late Hits. "Some people are really trying to get in your head and test your reaction. ... I go in one room, and a team will ask me do I like men, just to see my reaction. I go in another room, they’ll try to bring up one of my family members or something and tell me, 'Hey, I heard your mom sells herself. How do you feel about that?’ "

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in an email to USA TODAY Sports Thursday that the league is "looking into the matter."

"A question such as that is completely inappropriate and wholly contrary to league workplace policies," McCarthy said. "The NFL and its clubs are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees in a manner that is consistent with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, state and federal laws and the CBA.

Guice is predicted to be a first round draft pick.

This isn't the first time this has happened at the NFL Combine. In 2016, a coach from the Atlanta Falcons asked cornerback Eli Apple a similar question.

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said in an interview he has the solution to this problem.

“Find out what team did it and ban them from the Combine,” Smith said. “The question is inappropriate. Questions along these lines are always inappropriate.”

WTH is this?! What does who’s in your bed have to do with what you can do on the field?! https://t.co/vQCTrNFThX

— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) March 8, 2018

This is illegal. The NFL can find out in 5 minutes who did it; let’s see how serious they are. https://t.co/qEm4loLIDQ

— Jason Gay (@jasongay) March 8, 2018

It is 2018 and an NFL team asked Derrius Guice if he is gay. Teams that engage in blatant homophobia (and potential violations of labor laws) should be named and sanctioned. A finger wag just doesn't cut it This time, @NFL https://t.co/qaqbxMi2aM

— Dani Bostick (@danibostick) March 8, 2018

Video: NFL 2018 Bad Lip Reading

Yep - another NFL-themed post!

This one from the folks at Bad Lip Reading as they imagine just what it is the players are saying down on the field.

Some funny stuff here.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

NFL Pushes Back On Trump's Tweet That NFL "Demanding" Players To Stand During The National Anthem

The NFL on Wednesday slapped back at Donald Trump’s tweet that suggested league Commissioner Roger Goodell is “finally demanding” that players stand up during the national anthem.

The correction came after yesterday's announcement that Goodell said he would meet with the league’s team owners to discuss a path forward regarding the current national debate about anthem protests.

As part of his announcement, Goodell shared that while the league believes “everyone should stand for the National Anthem,” no demand was placed on players to stand.

Additionally, the league proposed forming an “in-season platform” to allow players to promote social justice efforts.

But today, Donald Trump seemed to give the impression that Goodell and the NFL had announced an official change in terms of kneeling/standing during the national anthem.

Trump tweeted "It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY."

It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

The NFL pushed back immediately.

“Commentary this morning about the Commissioner's position on the Anthem is not accurate. As we said yesterday, there will be a discussion of these issues at the owners meeting next week. The NFL is doing the hard work of trying to move from protest to progress, working to bring people together,” the league said in a statement.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell To Team Owners: "We Believe That Everyone Should Stand For The National Anthem"

Addressing the ongoing controversy of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has penned a letter to team owners saying, "We believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem."

Does this mean there will be a rule change in the NFL? Will the players association go along?

We'll see.

Vice President Pence Walks Out Of NFL Football Game Over Players Kneeling During National Anthem

Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence
(image via Twitter)

Vice President Mike Pence walked out of today's NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts when several players from the 49ers took a knee during the singing of the national anthem.

Pence later tweeted (taking after his boss, I guess) to explain his position saying, in part, "While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem."

I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience...

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

...now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us...

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

From HuffPost:

Following the example of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, NFL players around the country have knelt during renditions of the national anthem in order to protest against police brutality and racial injustice directed towards black Americans.

More than a hundred NFL players from several football teams kneeled or held arms in solidarity earlier this month after President Donald Trump called NFL players who kneel during the anthem “sons of bitches.” He later insisted his criticism of the NFL had “nothing” to do with race.

Interestingly, Donald Trump chimed in saying he asked Pence to walk out making some wonder if Pence traveled to Indiana just to pull an orchestrated stunt - on the taxpayer's dime:

I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

Wait. This was orchestrated to make a point? That's not an inexpensive thing to do. https://t.co/Ze5jDw4Ifu

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) October 8, 2017

There you have confirmation. A cross-country trip for a staged publicity stunt, financed by your taxes. https://t.co/Z87RTlmq6R

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) October 8, 2017

So this probably cost $1 million to score a political point. https://t.co/8PRVpbgd2o

— Glenn Fleishman 👋🚨🚑 (@GlennF) October 8, 2017

You do know 58 people were shot and killed last Sunday, right? Why are you at a football game playing Stunt Queen? https://t.co/qiuCoO0dJr

— emokidsloveme (@emokidsloveme) October 8, 2017

FLAG: Was Pence leaving Colts game a political stunt? Reporters were told to stay in van bc "there may be an early departure from the game."

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 8, 2017

The Vice President of the US wasted taxpayer dollars for a pre-planned political charade against the 1st Amendment. Let that fully sink in https://t.co/18qOFlnr9v

— Justin (@DTPJustin) October 8, 2017

Trumps Sends Dog Whistle: NFL Owners Are "Afraid Of Their Players"

Days after Donald Trump sparked a national controversy over NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem before football games, Trump now sounds a very audible dog whistle saying NFL owners are "afraid of their players."

From the Washington Post:

President Trump said in an interview broadcast Thursday that NFL owners are “afraid of their players,” his latest provocative comments in a crusade against those who take a knee during the national anthem.

Trump urged the football league to adopt and enforce a rule that requires players to stand during the anthem He said he has talked in recent days to several team owners, who he said are “in a box” on the issue.

“I think they’re afraid of their players if you want to know the truth, and I think it’s disgraceful,” Trump said in an interview broadcast of Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” “They’ve got to be tough, and they’ve got to be smart.”

EXCLUSIVE: @PeteHegseth interviewed @POTUS on national anthem protests pic.twitter.com/LJhOK9nTmw

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) September 28, 2017

Washington Post sports columnist Kevin Blackistone explains why NFL players are taking a knee, and how Trump has high-jacked the movement for his own uses.

Sportscaster Dale Hansen: "All Of Us Should Protest How Black Americans Are Treated In This Country"

Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen gets to the heart of the current #TakeAKnee movement in classic Hansen fashion.

Via USAToday:

Donald Trump has said he supports a peaceful protest because it’s an American’s right. But not this protest, and there’s the problem: Any protest you don’t agree with is a protest that should be stopped.

Martin Luther King should have marched across a different bridge. Young, black Americans should have gone to a different college and found a different lunch counter. And college kids in the 60s had no right to protest an immoral war.

[snip]

The young, black athletes are not disrespecting America or the military by taking a knee during the anthem. They are respecting the best thing about America. It’s a dog whistle to the racists among us to say otherwise.

They, and all of us, should protest how black Americans are treated in this country. And if you don’t think white privilege is a fact, you don’t understand America.

Hansen concludes with the suggestion that "maybe we all need to read the Constitution again."

Yet again, Dale Hansen for the win.

Watch below.

Trump Doubles Down On NFL Attacks: "Stand For The National Anthem Or Get Fired"

Athletically-challenged Donald Trump doubled down on his attacks on NFL players who choose to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem before football games saying they should "find something else to do!"

"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect....our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"

This follows his comments last night at a rally in Alabama where he told the crowd, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now. He is fired.'”

Mind you, this is all going on while thousands of Americans in Puerto Rico are trying to survive without electric power after being savaged by Hurricane Maria. But Trump is picking fights with football players over 1st Amendment rights.

If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

...our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Just so we're clear...

NFL Slaps Back At Donald Trump's Attacks On Players "Taking A Knee"

Roger Goodell

Donald Trump started a firestorm last night at a rally in Alabama when he attacked NFL football players who take a knee during the national anthem.

From USAToday:

"Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired!”

The audience then chanted "USA!”

"You know, some owner's going to do that," Trump continued. "He's going to say, 'That guy who disrespects our flag, he's fired.'"

He encouraged fans to walk out of stadiums if they see a player taking a knee in protest.

This is where I should probably point out that "taking a knee" is basically a First Amendment right. The U.S. Constitution protects free speech and freedom of expression.

Let's see, where have we seen citizens forced to stand and swear allegiance to a flag/country that they don't feel treats them with justice? Let me think, it'll come to me... #Hitler #Nazis

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Trump's "divisive comments" were unacceptable, "showing an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."

Watch Goodell's response below.

“This union...will never back down when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens as well as their safety as men who compete in a game that exposes them to great risks,” said DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, via Twitter.

We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports. pic.twitter.com/Ec3Bc4qt9h

— DeMaurice Smith (@DeSmithNFLPA) September 23, 2017

An entire island full of Americans in Puerto Rico are without power right now, and @POTUS is cursing out NFL players at his campaign rally.

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) September 23, 2017

Working people are hurting. Puerto Rico is underwater. The President is starting a flame war with an NBA player. Unbelievable. https://t.co/eLp2ccGyHN

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) September 23, 2017

But the best response to Trump's rant came from Kaepernick's mom: "Guess that makes me a proud bitch!"

Guess that makes me a proud bitch!

— Teresa Kaepernick (@B4IleaveU) September 23, 2017

Former NFL Player Ryan O’Callaghan Comes Out

Ryan O’Callaghan

In an deeply personal interview with Outsports, five-season NFL veteran Ryan O’Callaghan (New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs) came out of the closet having conquered years of suicidal thoughts.

O’Callaghan learned very quickly that football was the best place in the world for a gay teenager to hide. The brute, physical nature of the sport went against every stereotype of gay men he knew. At his size, few people would suspect he was gay, and if he was a football player on top of that, he felt his secret would be buried.

"No one is going to assume the big football player is gay," he said. "It’s why a football team is such a good place to hide.

So he dove into football and made a pact with himself: As long as he put on those pads, he was good to go. Once football was over, he’d take a gun to his head and end it all. That was the deal, and he would hold himself to it.

Watch the video interview below, but make sure you head over to the full article here.