Giants' Olivier Vernon on anthem protest: Donald Trump 'ain't my president'

PHILADELPHIA -- Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon had been bothered by President Donald Trump long before Sunday. But Vernon decided to take a knee during the national anthem before Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Eagles to protest the inflammatory comments Trump made about NFL players on Friday.

"I had a lot of patience from last year to what was going on," Vernon said. "I respect this nation, this country. I'm a first-generation American - my parents aren't from this country. All those remarks just built up and I think last night just hearing that kind of struck a chord."

Vernon, who is the son of Jamaican and Swiss parents, was joined by teammates Landon Collins and Damon Harrison on a knee during the anthem. The rest of the Giants' players stood with their arms linked.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now? Out. He's fired. He's fired!'" Trump said at a campaign rally in Huntsville, Alabama.

Vernon said he's not concerned about the possible ramifications from his protest.

"I've been raised the right way," Vernon said. "I know what's right and I know what's wrong. Ain't nobody ever going to scare me. I don't care if you the president or not, you ain't my president."

Giants coach Ben McAdoo said he talked to the team about the situation before the game. The team decided to stand with their arms linked, but Vernon, Collins and Harrison spoke separately and decided to kneel together.

"(McAdoo) wanted us to hold arms. We just had a strong decision on taking a different approach to it," Collins said. "I'm not going to let my boy take a knee by himself. We just talked about it. It's just something for respect. It's nothing that we're saying that we're disrespecting our country. We love our country to death. We would die for it too if we can. But at the same time, we respect each other and we have a family over here and we're going to fight for each other."

Harrison declined to speak to reporters after the game, but he released on a statement on Twitter explaining his decision.

Vernon and Collins said they're not sure if they'll continue their protest going forward.

Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch issued a statement on Saturday that condemned Trump's "inappropriate, offensive and divisive" comments. Captain Jonathan Casillas didn't kneel, but he expressed strong feelings about Trump's comments.

"I'm not a fan of his. I don't speak on it as much as other guys do, but I stand for our beliefs as Americans," Casillas said. "For the president to call us a 'son of a bitch' for doing what we're right to do, what the people that fought for our flag - that's what they're fighting for. They're fighting for our freedom and our right to be able to do stuff like that."
