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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo doesn't feel the need to address San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to not stand for the national anthem with his team. He feels that topic has already been covered during a meeting earlier this summer. McAdoo had offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan (a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger and Assault schools) and Col. Greg Gadson talk to the team before the Giants’ first preseason game. They addressed the importance of the anthem. "The way we operate for the national anthem, we consider it a small gesture to those that served and sacrificed their lives for our country and for us to play and coach in this great game. Part of that is the freedom of speech and we certainly respect that, and we talk to our guys about keeping empathy in mind when they do lead and use this league as a platform. But I'd be disappointed if one of our guys chose not to stand. It's their choice. It's not mandatory. But we feel it's important." Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh shared a similar sentiment on Saturday before the Giants played the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Pugh called it “disrespectful” to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country to not stand for the anthem. Pugh’s brother is in the Air Force. Victor Cruz also didn’t think Kaepernick was using the correct method to get his point across. The national anthem and flag mean too much to the Giants wide receiver. "I think, personally, the flag is the flag," Cruz said. "Regardless of how you feel about things that are going on in America today, and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things of that nature, you've got to respect the flag, and you've got to stand up with your teammates. It's bigger than just you, in my opinion. "I think you go up there, you're with a team, and you go and you know you pledge your allegiance to the flag and sing the national anthem with your team and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are." Kaepernick said Sunday he plans to continue not standing for the anthem. “Yes. I'll continue to sit,” he said. “I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. “When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand.” Kaepernick has at least one other player set to join him with a similar protest. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Myke Tavarres plans to sit for the anthem this week when the Eagles host the Jets.
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