More Americans Say Athletes Should Stand for Anthem
CABRERA: President Trump is doubling down in his public battle with the NFL. He just tweeted this, this evening. Very important that NFL players stand tomorrow and always for the playing of their national anthem. Respect our flag and our country. Now, today, we are learning that more NFL teams may answer that call and stand for the anthem this weekend. Drew Brees from the Saints tweeting: as way to show respect to all, our Saints team will kneel in solidarity prior to the national anthem and stand together during the anthem. Now, a new CNN poll shows that more Americans think these athletes should stand. Overall, 49 percent of Americans say the players are wrong to protest during the national anthem. Forty-three percent say it's the right thing to do. Joining us now, former NFL player and retired Green Beret Nate Boyer. Nate, thanks so much. You got player Colin Kaepernick to go from sitting to kneeling during the anthem. Now, the cover of the new "TIME Magazine" is depicting President Trump as an inflatable tackling bag with the title, "Why Always Bounces Back." Nate, is the President right on this one? Is more of the country with him on this issue?</s>NATE BOYER, FORMER NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER: I mean, it's -- first of all, it's not a right or wrong thing. It's not, is it right to do to stand and wrong to kneel or vice versa. Like, we're getting so in the weeds on that. I mean, it's definitely -- and it's not -- and I also think it's not necessarily disrespectful. They're not disrespecting the flag or the anthem. They're demonstrating about something else during that time. So we have to understand that. We've got to get past that. I agree in the sense that I think we should all stand, personally, because of my experiences, but these guys have a message. All these players, most of these guys that are leading the way are very read up on this issue and very intelligent on this issue and are passionate and feel strongly about it. So I will always support our rights as Americans regardless of whether I agree with them or not and -- but I think that unity is the key. The NFL did show quite a bit of unity last week. And I do like personally seeing, you know, that maybe taking that knee as a group before the anthem itself and then standing for the anthem like Drew Brees is saying there, I think that's a good call.</s>CABRERA: Now, I want to play you something the President said this week on this.</s>TRUMP: I have so many friends that are owners and they're in a box. I mean, I've spoken to a couple of them. They say we are in a situation where we have to do something. I think they're afraid of their players, if you want to know the truth. And I think it's disgraceful.</s>CABRERA: And most of the players, as we all know, are African- American. Do you believe that comment was a dog whistle to his base as others have suggested?</s>BOYER: I mean, I don't know. I'm proud of a lot of the owners from this last week because they were down on the field, many of them embracing their teammates, arm in arm, locked. Some of them taking a knee along with the team before the anthem. And just seeing that, because the short time I spent in the league and just, you know, my limited knowledge of it, there are so many instances where the players and ownership, the organization, just don't really communicate well. They don't really get along. And to see them sort of come together for that, I feel like it's brought them together in a lot of ways, this whole situation. I mean, you know, Roger Goodell and D. Morrie Smith, who's the head of the NFL P.A., usually are at odds about everything. And they've been on the same page with this in trying to stay bonded as a league and come together. And I think some players are listening to others' point of views where they haven't really before. And I think those relationships are maybe developing in those locker rooms like they haven't before through all this. So it's very interesting. It's an interesting time for the league and for America, but I'm proud of the way the league has kind of banded together. And we're moving forward with this. I think the owners and players are communicating on a different level, probably not in every circumstance but in most cases like they haven't before.</s>CABRERA: Nate, very quickly, do you think, at the end of all of this, we'll see Kaepernick hired because, in part, of the attention that's been drawn to this issue?</s>BOYER: I'm not sure. I mean, that's a tough one. He's absolutely qualified as far as a player. You know, the fear from these owners, I believe, in the organizations is, you know, they see him as a backup quarterback right now. And usually a backup quarterback doesn't garner this much attention or in a lot of cases, what they may feel is a distraction or someone, you know, they worry their fan base will fear having on a team like them and they don't want to lose those people. They don't want to lose that viewership. And so that's where that worry is in signing him. I think it's much more that than -- or blackballing him because of his beliefs or we don't think he's capable. I think it's just that worry of the bottom line because, at the end of the day, it is a business.</s>CABRERA: That's right. Nate Boyer, thank you so much for your perspective, and thank you for your service. Now, yesterday, the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico begged for help. Today, she woke up to attacks from President Trump. Anderson Cooper is in San Juan and just spoke to the Mayor. Find out how she is reacting, next. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.