It started early, in London.
Just before 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, some Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars knelt during “The Star-Spangled Banner” while other players locked arms with one another and team executives on an NFL Sunday suddenly draped in political controversy.
At 1 p.m., similar scenes played out from Philadelphia to Buffalo to Detroit, as athletes delivered a stark visual rebuke to President Trump’s sharp criticism of athletes who have staged silent protests during the anthem. Later in the day, more demonstrations and symbolic statements spread across the league, drawing in players and executives who had not spoken before.