ARLINGTON, Texas – Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the NFL can't leave the impression that it tolerates players disrespecting the flag and that any of his players making such displays won't play.
Jones had his strongest comments so far on the anthem controversy Sunday night. They started with his response to a question about Vice President Mike Pence leaving the game in Indianapolis after about a dozen San Francisco players knelt during the anthem.
"I know this, we cannot …in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag," Jones, also the team's general manager, said after a 35-31 loss to Green Bay.
"We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. So we're clear."
The Cowboys, including Jones, knelt arm-in-arm before the anthem when they played at Arizona two weeks ago, days after President Donald Trump criticized NFL players for protests.
Jones, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, said showing respect for the flag and the anthem is more important to him than any potential issues of team unity.
"If there's anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play," he said. "OK? Understand? If we are disrespecting the flag, then we won't play. Period."
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