"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-06-04T23:51:02Z"
data-video-section="politics"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/06/04/marc-short-trump-cancels-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-sot-ebof.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="marc short trump cancels philadelphia eagles nfl sot ebof"
data-first-publish-slug="marc short trump cancels philadelphia eagles nfl sot ebof"
data-video-tags="donald trump,football (american),government and public administration,government bodies and offices,legislative bodies,marc short,nfl,nfl national anthem protests,philadelphia eagles,political figures - us,protests and demonstrations,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams,us federal government,white house,football (american) events,sports events,super bowl"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-06-05T06:24:37Z"
data-video-section="politics"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/06/05/nfl-eagles-white-house-invite-panel-ebof.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="nfl eagles white house invite panel ebof"
data-first-publish-slug="nfl eagles white house invite panel ebof"
data-video-tags="donald trump,football (american),football (american) events,government and public administration,government bodies and offices,nfl,nfl national anthem protests,philadelphia eagles,political figures - us,protests and demonstrations,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,super bowl,us federal government,white house"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-05-28T14:18:53Z"
data-video-section="politics"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/05/28/nate-boyer-ex-green-beret-nfl-player-nfl-anthem-bts.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="nate boyer ex green beret nfl player nfl anthem bts"
data-first-publish-slug="nate boyer ex green beret nfl player nfl anthem bts"
data-video-tags="athletes,colin kaepernick,football (american),nfl,nfl national anthem protests,protests and demonstrations,sports and recreation,sports figures,sports organizations and teams"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-05-24T12:01:35Z"
data-video-section="politics"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/05/24/trump-nfl-anthem-comment-george-martin-sot-newday.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="trump nfl anthem comment george martin sot newday"
data-first-publish-slug="trump nfl anthem comment george martin sot newday"
data-video-tags="athletes,celebrities,donald trump,football (american),george martin,government and public administration,government bodies and offices,labor and employment,labor disputes and negotiations,labor relations,nfl,nfl national anthem protests,political figures - us,protests and demonstrations,sports and recreation,sports business,sports labor disputes,sports organizations and teams,us federal government,white house"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-09-28T20:15:32Z"
data-video-section="politics"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/09/28/sarah-sanders-nfl-trump-april-ryan-whpb-sot.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="sarah sanders nfl trump april ryan whpb sot"
data-first-publish-slug="sarah sanders nfl trump april ryan whpb sot"
data-video-tags="business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,donald trump,football (american),government and public administration,government bodies and offices,journalism and news media,media industry,nfl,political figures - us,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams,us federal government,white house"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-05-05T14:11:33Z"
data-video-section="business"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/cnnmoney/2018/05/05/redskins-cheerleaders-costa-rica-photo-shoot-gallagher-dnt.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="redskins cheerleaders costa rica photo shoot gallagher dnt"
data-first-publish-slug="redskins cheerleaders costa rica photo shoot gallagher dnt"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,central america,cheerleading,companies,costa rica,football (american),latin america,magazines,media industry,new york times co,nfl,passports and travel visas,photography,playboy,publishing industry,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams,travel and tourism,visual arts,washington redskins"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
NFL cheerleaders: Topless photo shoot crossed the line
In the nearly 13 months since the former NFL quarterback took a stand by taking a knee, tight end Julius Thomas had never followed suit – until Sunday. So, what changed?
“After I heard the President’s comments – and just the difference in characterization he had for my fellow peers taking a silent protest, in comparison to the way he characterized people that were preaching hate – it really struck me,” Thomas told Erin Burnett Monday evening.
During a Friday night speech in Alabama, President Donald Trump labeled NFL players as “sons of bitches” for failing to stand during the National Anthem.
“When I watched it, I was just truly hurt,” Thomas, now a Miami Dolphin, said. “I don’t think a lot of people truly understand what it feels like to wake up in this country and not feel equal.”
“It was tough, it was very emotional for me,” he added. “And in that moment, I knew that I could no longer continue to stand by and not take a stance.”
During Sunday’s slate of NFL games, players across the league, from teams across the country, joined in displays of opposition to Trump’s comments. While many athletes linked arms in unison, others joined Thomas in kneeling, and others still remained inside the locker room until the song concluded. For Thomas, the uptick in activism can be directly linked to the President, and a perception that he doesn’t govern or love equally.
“I don’t think that’s something that’s even arguable at this point,” he said on CNN’s “OutFront.” “It truly seems to me and to those in my life that the President is not concerned with the people who feel less privileged in this country.”
While the NFL’s players haven’t been fully united in their forms of expression, or even in their stance on standing for the flag, Thomas doubts division will filter in and poison teams. In fact, he says, that’s actually the whole point of the protests themselves.
“Whatever stance you decided to make or if you want to stand for the anthem and you want to put your hand over your heart and go along, that’s fine, that’s okay,” Thomas said. “What we’re saying is, in no way is it okay for the President of the United States to try to intimidate people from expressing themselves peacefully.”
So with more attention on the NFL than at any point so far this year, and with fans and players politically polarized like never before, what’s Thomas’ next play?
“I’ve decided that I’m going to continue to take a knee,” he said. “This is an issue going on in this country that I feel like needs to be heard. And right, wrong or indifferent, I feel that doing that before the game is the way to have the greatest impact.”
Thomas and his Dolphins teammates’ next opportunity for national impact will come on a global stage, as Miami travels to Wembley Stadium in London for a Sunday meeting with the New Orleans Saints.
