POLICE Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NFL Sunday: Cleveland Players Show Unity with Police, Bennett Brothers Show Contempt

Members of the Cleveland Browns and law enforcement officers and emergency workers ran onto the field together and locked arms during the national anthem on Sunday before the team’s first game of the season.

September 11, 2017
NFL Sunday: Cleveland Players Show Unity with Police, Bennett Brothers Show Contempt

 

2 min to read


Embed from Getty Images

Members of the Cleveland Browns and law enforcement officers and emergency workers ran onto the field together and locked arms during the national anthem on Sunday before the team’s first game of the season.

Ad Loading...

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who last week accused the police in Las Vegas of excessive force and racially profiling him after mistakenly detaining him in connection with a report of gunfire there, sat during the national anthem before a game against the Packers in Green Bay. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has released video showing the incident and refuting Bennett's claims.

Bennett’s brother Martellus, who is playing for the Packers, raised his right fist during the anthem, the New York Times reports.

Other players demonstrating anti-police sentiments during the first week of NFL play included:

* Marshawn Lynch—Oakland Raiders

* Robert Quinn—Los Angeles Rams

Ad Loading...

* Malcolm Jenkins—Philadelphia Eagles

* Marcus Peters—Kansas City Chiefs

On the other end of the spectrum Houston Texans' player J.J. Watt, who has raised millions for victims of Hurricane Harvey, tipped his cap to every  officer he saw as he arrived for the game Sunday at NRG Stadium.

J.J. Watt has arrived at NRG Stadium and on his walk to the #Texans locker room he tipped his cap to every police officer he passed.

— Andrew Catalon (@AndrewCatalon) September 10, 2017

The show of unity in Cleveland came after several Browns knelt in prayer before a preseason game, prompting police officers and rescue workers’ unions, which often participate in pregame ceremonies, to issue statements objecting to anthem protests and threatening to refuse to hold the flag during the anthem ceremony on Sunday.

Ad Loading...

More Patrol

Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

Tips for Watching the Hands

How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with yellow headline 10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops.
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 3, 2025

10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops

What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Screenshot of compute screen showing a blurred license plate compared to an image where the image has been enhanced to show the numbers and letters.
Patrolby Edited by StaffNovember 25, 2025

Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software

Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.

Read More →
Background orange tinted image of southern California with pushpin marking Burbank. Headline reads K-9 Killed by Gunman, Burbank Police Department
PatrolNovember 24, 2025

Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops

A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.

Read More →
Thumbnail image with blue and red police lights against a black background, large POLICE logo, headline for From the Show Floor: InVeris
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 23, 2025

From the Show Floor: InVeris

In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail image for video series POLICE From the Show Floor featuring Polaris Government & Defense.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 19, 2025

From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense

Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.

Read More →