Image via Twitter
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he regrets remaining off the field during the National Anthem at Sunday’s game in Chicago.
In a statement on Monday, he said that he actually lost sleep over the decision.
At the request of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, the whole team – with the exception of retired Army Ranger and Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva – stayed in the tunnel to avoid taking a public stance on President Trump’s recent remarks demanding players stand during the Anthem.
Villanueva, a Bronze star recipient and former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, was the only one on the field during the “Star Spangled Banner,” standing solemnly with his hand over his heart.
Roethlisberger said that he wishes the team “approached it differently” and that he personally doesn't believe "the Anthem is ever the time to make any type of protest."
"I was unable to sleep last night and want to share my thoughts and feelings on our team’s decision to remain in the tunnel for the National Anthem yesterday," the statement began. "The idea was to be unified as a team when so much attention is paid to things dividing our country, but I wish we approached it differently. We did not want to appear divided on the sideline with some standing and some kneeling or sitting."
"As a team, it was not a protest of the flag or the Anthem,” he went on. “I personally don’t believe the Anthem is ever the time to make any type of protest."
"I appreciate the unique diversity in my team and throughout the league and completely support the call for social change and the pursuit of true equality," wrote Roethlisberger. "Moving forward, I hope standing for the Anthem shows solidarity as a nation, that we stand united in respect for the people on the front lines protecting our freedom and keeping us safe."
Coach Tomlin criticized the team's left tackle for going out onto the field when the team had decided, though not unanimously, to not come out of the locker room for the Anthem.
“Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team,” said Tomlin.
“Many of them felt like something needed to be done,” he said. “I asked those guys to discuss it and whatever they discussed that we have 100 percent participation or we do nothing… They discussed it for an appropriate length of time and they couldn’t come to an understanding, so they chose to remove themselves from it. They were not going to be disrespectful in the Anthem so they chose not to participate, but at the same time many of them were not going to accept the words of the president.”
Villanueva has not spoken publicly since Sunday’s game, though his popularity has gone through the roof.
More NFL merchandise with his name and jersey number have been ordered than any other NFL player, an occurrence unheard of for an offensive lineman.
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