Steelers’ Pouncey on new NFL anthem policy: ‘Follow the rules’
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Alejandro Villanueva dismissed a mob of reporters and a phalanx of TV cameras Thursday with an 鈥淚鈥檓 not here for clickbait鈥� comment as he walked on down the hall.
The large group of reporters attended the Steelers鈥� third OTA practice of the spring but came mainly to hear the normally eloquent Villanueva, an Army Ranger and war hero, discuss the new NFL rule requiring players to stand 鈥� if they come out of the locker room 鈥� for the national anthem.
If not, the team risks being fined.
NFL owners voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the new rule.
While Villanueva passed on making comment, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who unified the team last year with fiery commentary to the media, wasn鈥檛 nearly as shy.
鈥淔ollow the rules,鈥� Pouncey said Wednesday. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e got other rules that everybody follows. That鈥檚 the way I look at it. I stand up for the anthem.鈥�
The Steelers created a storm of controversy last year when they 鈥� in reaction to Donald Trump鈥檚 Sept. 21 commentary regarding those protesting police brutality by taking a knee during the anthem 鈥� decided to stay in the locker room because 鈥淲e were not going to play politics,鈥� according to Mike Tomlin.
But Villanueva slipped out of the tunnel in Chicago by about 20 feet to get a glimpse of the flag as he stood with hand over heart. He was photographed as separate from the team and the Steelers subsequently became a lightning rod for criticism.
Pouncey put an end to the controversy when he addressed the media three days after the loss to the Bears with a fiery, 鈥淭rust me, this team will be out there standing!鈥� for the ensuing game in Baltimore.
The Steelers all stood that day and remained unified and standing throughout the remainder of the season. The unifier, Pouncey, doesn鈥檛 see a reason to change this season.
鈥淣o one鈥檚 going to stay in the locker room,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his team, we all came out last year and stood. We don鈥檛 have that problem on this team. For us, it鈥檚 going to be the same.鈥�
As he said last year, the time to make political statements is any day other than game day.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to go out there and follow the rules,鈥� Pouncey said. 鈥淚f we were going to do anything, it鈥檚 going to be on the off days. On Sundays or Mondays we鈥檙e going to play football. Stand for the flag.鈥�