NFL News - No Alabama players involved in NFL protests during national anthem on Sunday

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All of the NFL players with Alabama football roots stood during the national anthem at Sunday's games.  One week ago, only one player from an Alabama high school or college did not stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner." Former Alabama standout Jarran Reed joined other Seattle Seahawks defensive linemen in sitting during the national anthem.

The Seahawks played on Thursday night in Week 10 of the NFL's 2017 season, and all of their players stood for the song before their game against the Arizona Cardinals.  Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett told NBC Sports the players did not want their protest to be construed as anti-military by sitting with Veterans Day on Saturday.

Sunday also was Salute to Service Day in the NFL with observances and interactions with service members and veterans before the games. NFL players have been sitting, kneeling or raising a fist during the national anthem since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling before games last year. Kaepernick's protest was intended to draw attention to incidents in which law-enforcement authorities had shot unarmed black men without criminal or professional repercussions.

It wasn't until Sept. 24 that widespread protests during the national anthem occurred, though. On that Sunday, about 180 players sat or knelt during the song, and three teams stayed in the locker room rather than be on the sideline for the performance.

The outburst came in response to remarks made by President Donald Trump on Sept. 22 during a Huntsville campaign rally for Luther Strange's run at the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.  

"That's a total disrespect of our heritage. That's a total disrespect of everything that we stand for," Trump said of players who did not stand for the national anthem. "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you'd say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired.'"

On Oct. 1, 52 players sat or knelt and one stayed in the locker room for the pre-game tradition. On Oct. 8, the 49ers still had 23 kneelers, but by Oct. 15 and 22, that number had dropped to six among San Francisco players.