Cowboys owner threatens to bench any player ‘disrespectful to the flag’

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys warned late Sunday that members of his team won’t be allowed to play if they are “disrespectful to the flag.”

“If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag then we will not play,” Jerry Jones said, according to the Dallas News.

“You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag then we won’t play. Period,” he continued.

“We’re going to respect the flag, and I’m going to create the perception of it. And we have.”

His comments came after Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday walked out of the Indianapolis Colts game after some San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the national anthem.

Pence said he left the game because he wouldn’t support an event that disrespects the flag or soldiers.

Jones said the NFL can’t “in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag.”

“I know the vice president did leave, because in his opinion the teams were,” he said.

“We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. Just so we’re clear.”

Jones also said that the vice president should be free to express himself.

“He felt that not standing for the flag is disrespectful. I do, too,” Jones said.

“The league in my mind should absolutely take the rules we’ve got on the books and make sure that we do not give the perception that we’re disrespecting the flag.”

President Trump spurred controversy last month after he attacked NFL players who kneel during the national anthem.

Since his comments, many players have chosen to kneel when the national anthem plays during their games.