Baldwin says some owners ordered players not to protest during anthem

SEATTLE – Some NFL owners have ordered their players not to protest during the national anthem, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin told HBO this week.

Baldwin said players on other teams have been told they can’t kneel, or even follow the Seahawks’ lead and link arms during the anthem. He didn’t say which teams or owners.

According to Baldwin, some owners told players that “you’re going stand on the line with your hand on your heart, and you’re going to sing the national anthem, because this is my stage.”

The full interview is scheduled to air on HBO’s “Any Given Sunday” at 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

“There are some owners out there that have taken a stand and told their players to do certain things, which I think is egregious,” Baldwin said.



Baldwin also discussed the NFL’s concussion protocol, which he went through after taking a hard hit in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Baldwin said it’s possible for a player to “fake” his way back into the game with a concussion.

“I think there’s a number of players who do that,” Baldwin said. “I think it’s relatively known around the league. Even the officials know that it’s not an exact science. We know the protocols, so that if you’re cognitively there somewhat, you can cheat the system.”