Jerry Jones said in a postgame interview Sunday night that Dallas Cowboys players who don’t respect the flag will not play in upcoming games.
The Cowboys lost their game to the Green Bay Packers 35-31 on Sunday prior to Jones’ statement.
“If there’s anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play,” Jones said, ESPN reported. “Period.”
Cowboys players have stood during the playing of the national anthem during games this season, although the team — including Jones — knelt before the anthem Sept. 25. Two players — defensive ends Damontre Moore and David Irving — raised their fists at the end of the anthem Sunday, but Jones did not address whether he thought that was disrespectful.
The national attention focused on the protests had died down somewhat after the Las Vegas shooting, but was revived by Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday when he left the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers after more than 20 49ers players knelt during the anthem with their hands over their hearts.
“We cannot in the NFL, in any way, give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,” Jones said, Sporting News reported. “We cannot do that. I know the vice president did leave because in his opinion, the teams were.”
The NFL game operations manual includes a guideline about player behavior during the anthem, stating that players should “stand at attention, face the flag, hold their helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking,” ESPN reported.
The league has previously said the guideline is a policy rather than a rule and that it doesn't plan to punish players who protest during the anthem.