Jarrett, Poe kneel during National Anthem; singer joins them after his performance
Falcons defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe elected to kneel during the National Anthem before facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Most of the Falcons held hands and stood along with owner Arthur Blank. The offensive linemen did not hold hands and stood along off to the far right along with fullback Derrick Coleman.
Eight Detroit Lions elected to kneel.
Lions running back Ameer Abdullah, linebacker Tahir Whitehead and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson, took a knee for the anthem, but joined their fellow players in linking arms.
Defensive linemen Cornelius Washington, Akeem Spence and Jeremiah Ledbetter, and linebackers Steve Longa and Jalen Reeves-Maybin knelt for the anthem, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Rico Lavelle, the singer of the National Anthem knelt after he finished singing and raised his fist up in the air.
WOW. Rico Lavelle, who sang national anthem before @Lions @AtlantaFalcons game in Detroit ended on one knee w/ ✊
🏽.
— Huwaida Arraf (@huwaidaarraf)
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
