FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jets players rallied around team chairman Christopher Johnson just days after he told Newsday the team would not punish players if they felt the need to protest during the national anthem.
After the NFL last Wednesday enacted a new policy that requires players to stand for the anthem or face league-mandated fines to the team and potential sanctions on players by the club, Johnson said the Jets would not expose his players to further penalties. His players appreciated the support.
“He’s great. He stuck his neck out there, because I know a lot of people feel passionate about that [anthem issue],” third-year linebacker Darron Lee said Tuesday after an offseason practice.