Several Dolphins Stand Tall by Kneeling at Start of Game Against Jets

Wide receiver Kenny Stills kneeled. So did tackle Laremy Tunsil, safety Maurice Smith, and tight end Julius Thomas. The entire team locked arms in solidarity.

By Chuck Strouse

September 24, 2017

The Dolphins visit a shelter in Miami before Sunday's game in New York. Miami Dolphins

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Wide receiver Kenny Stills kneeled. So did tackle Laremy Tunsil, safety Maurice Smith, and tight end Julius Thomas. The entire team locked arms in solidarity.

The Miami Dolphins stood up to President Donald Trump before Sunday's game against the Jets in New York. Trump had called for fans to boycott games if players didn't stand during the National Anthem.

At the first game of the day, between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens in London, about 20 players on both teams kneeled. All players locked arms in an apparent show of solidarity.

On Saturday, Stephen Ross, the Dolphins' owner, issued this statement: "Our country needs unifying leadership right now, not more divisiveness. We need to seek to understand each other and have civil discourse instead of condemnation and sound bites. I know our players who kneeled for the anthem, and these are smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone. They wanted to start a conversation and are making a difference in our community, including working with law enforcement to bring people together. We all can benefit from learning, listening, and respecting each other. Sports is a common denominator in our world. We all have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect, and equality.”

And the team issued this tweet: "We have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect & equality." Some players, including Kenny Stills, retweeted it. Stills had kneeled last year but said he wouldn't do so this year.

Sports is a common denominator in our world.

We have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect & equality. pic.twitter.com/Y8UgDvW4o5
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 24, 2017

Others signed on. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry posted a tweet urging the team to remain united.

We Got To Stick Together...
— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) September 23, 2017

During the team’s pregame routine, players wore T-shirts that read “#IMWITHKAP” in support of former San Francsico 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision last year to sit during the National Anthem in a silent protest of racial injustice.

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Chuck Strouse is the former editor in chief of Miami New Times. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes and won dozens of other awards. He is an honors graduate of Brown University and has worked at newspapers including the Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times.

Contact: Chuck Strouse

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Twitter: @chuckstrouse