NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson defended the league’s new anthem policy as a “good thing” because it gives players a “choice” between standing on the sidelines during the national anthem and staying in the locker room.
“This gives you a choice. I think that’s a good thing,” Dickerson told TMZ Sports in an interview posted Sunday. “If the guys want to stand they can stand, if the guys that want to stay in the locker room, I think they’ll stay in the locker room. I mean, when I was there we stood.” (RELATED: Former NFL Player Calls New National Anthem Policy ‘Compulsory Patriotism’)
And just like “religion and raising your kids,” the NFL can’t possibly “please everybody.”
“You can’t please everybody,” Dickerson said. “By saying this, you know somebody’s not going to like it. It is what it is. It’s like religion and raising your kids. Nobody’s going to agree with you all the time.”
Speaking for himself, the former NFL running back told TMZ that he would “stand” if given the choice.
“Everybody has a disagreement on how you raise your kids, religion, politics. So my thing is that, I stood when we played. And I would still stand.” (RELATED: The NFL Anthem Decision Is Not An Assault On Free Speech)
“Everybody has the right to do what they want to do. If you want to stand, stand. If you want to stay in the locker room, stay in the locker room,” Dickerson added. “Those are grown men.”
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