Steelers President Art Rooney II says team didn't intend to boycott anthem
Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II tried to clear up what he called a "misperception" of the team's actions before Sunday's kickoff in a letter to fans Tuesday.
Rooney said players never intended to stage a boycott of the national anthem.
"The intentions of Steelers players were to stay out of the business of making a political statement by not taking the field," Rooney posted on the team's website. "Unfortunately, that was interpreted as a boycott of the anthem — which was never our players' intention."
All of the teams' players, except left tackle Alejandro Villanueva , remained in the Soldier Field tunnel during the national anthem before Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, prompting massive fallout from fans on both sides of the issue.
Fans criticized the teams on social media. Some vowed simply to boycott the NFL but others demonstrated their outrage by posting videos of themselves using lighter fluid or gasoline to burn team jerseys on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
"Our players come from many different backgrounds and are united by what it means to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers." Rooney wrote. "They are active in their communities and participate regularly in events designated to give back to those communities. And they appreciate the support they get from Steelers fans around the country and here at home."
A letter from Steelers President Art Rooney II to #SteelersNation : pic.twitter.com/0bcU6udMDr
" Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 26, 2017
Coach Mike Tomlin said he was trying to keep the team out of the political fray created when President Donald Trump ripped players who protested the anthem by kneeling or sitting.
During a political campaign rally Friday night in Huntsville, Ala., Trump said: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired, he's fired.'"
Rooney agreed that he wants to steer clear of politics.
"Yesterday, I received an email from a Steelers fan who said tell the players to just play football. That is exactly what they wanted to do," he wrote. "They wanted their sole focus to be on playing the game, while also coming together as a unified team. The main thing we can do is learn from this and strive to come together remaining unified as a football team. I believe we are capable of accomplishing this with the support of our fans."
Ben Schmitt is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7991, bschmitt@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @Bencschmitt.
