New Orleans Saints react to NFL's new national anthem rules



By Josh Katzenstein

Ten New Orleans Saints players sat on the bench during the national anthem before their Week 3 game against the Carolina Panthers.

Some players around the NFL had already been participating in a peaceful protest during the anthem with hopes of bringing attention to racial injustice and police brutality, starting in 2016 with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Just two days before these Saints players joined the cause, President Donald Trump said NFL owners should fire any "son of a birch" that disrespects the American flag during the anthem. These remarks spurred several players to join the protest, including some teams doing so in whole.

With the NFL announcing a new rule Wednesday stating that "all team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem," it's unclear how the Saints and other teams will respond.

Full Article -- Picayune