2 Bucs players kneel during national anthem, Glazer releases statement

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players took a knee as the National Anthem was played ahead of kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

According to the Associated Press, more than 200 NFL players sat or knelt in protest on Sunday.

Among them were Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans and Bucs wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Both were seen kneeling as the “Star-Spangled Banner” played. Evans had his hand over his heart during the anthem.

The other Bucs players stood with their arms linked together, as did the Vikings players.

Shortly after kickoff, Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer released this statement via Twitter:

Shortly before halftime of the Bucs and Vikings game, President Trump tweeted in response to Sunday’s protests by NFL players.

This all comes less than 48 hours after President Trump said NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem.

On Saturday, several Bucs players took to social media to voice their opposition to the president’s comments.

Jackson was one of the players who commented on Twitter, saying he would definitely be making a statement ahead of Sunday’s game:

This is not the first time Evans has opted not to stand for the national anthem.

Last year, Evans sat on the sidelines during the anthem due to his disappointment with the election of Donald Trump as president.

“I only see him tweeting about all of the other things going on. The situation in Charlottesville—I don’t see him talking about that much, but he has the time and the nerve to call out the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, all of us in the NFL that took a knee,” Evans told News Channel 8 after the game on Sunday.

Evans and Jackson’s gesture garnered a mixed reaction from Bucs fans on Sunday.

“That’s what I fought for,” said one fan. “Then to see this, it’s like slapping me in the face,” one fan, a veteran, told News Channel 8 after the game.

“It’s disrespectful to the flag, the servicemen, and yet they salute servicemen at every game,” said another.

But others feel differently.  “I’m proud of the Bucs, I’m proud of our players, I think they did it the right way,” one fan said after the game.

“We just want the same respect that everyone else gets. If our leader is supposed to get respect, we want to get respect too. We just don’t see it that way. It’s not going to be that way right now. And hopefully, we can get it figured out,” Jackson told News Channel 8.

National Anthem & the NFL Sunday

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers players link arms on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers players link arms on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 10: Malcolm Jenkins #27 and Chris Long #56 of the Philadelphia Eagles react during the national anthem before the game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 10, 2017 in Landover, Maryland.(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 11: A card stunt displays "NEVER FORGET" while the National Anthem plays before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 11: An eagle soars during the National Anthem before the game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 11, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 17: Martellus Bennett #80 of the Green Bay Packers raises his fist during the national anthem prior to the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Jacksonville Jaguar players show their protest during the National Anthem during the NFL International Series match between Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on September 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Indianapolis Colts stand and kneel for the national anthem prior to the start of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Cleveland Browns stand and kneel during the national anthem before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the New England Patriots kneel on the sidelines during the National Anthem before a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Detroit Lions take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick looks on as members of the New England Patriots kneel on the sidelines as the National Anthem is played before a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 24: The New Orleans Saints stand during the National Anthem before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 24: The Carolina Panthers stand during the National Anthem before their game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the New England Patriots kneel on the sidelines as the National Anthem is played before a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: A general view of Lincoln Financial Field during the national anthem prior to the game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles on September 24, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

ORCHARD PARK, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Virgil Green #85 of the Denver Broncos raises his fist during the American National Anthem before an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on September 24, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Maurice Smith #27 and Julius Thomas #89 kneel with Jarvis Landry #14 of the Miami Dolphins during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Robby Anderson #11 and Will Tye #82 of the New York Jets stand in unison with his team during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers Mike Evans #13, and DeSean Jackson #11, take a knee during the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers Mike Evans #13, and DeSean Jackson #11, take a knee during the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Will Tye #82, Matt Forte #22 and Neal Sterling #85 of the New York Jets stand in unison during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Isaac Seumalo #73 of the Philadelphia Eagles and Halapoulivaati Vaitai #72 of the Philadelphia Eagles link arms during the national anthem before the game against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: The Miami Dolphins stand in unison during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Green Bay Packers stand with arms locked as a sign of unity during the national anthem prior to their game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Cincinnati Bengals stand with arms locked as a sign of unity during the national anthem prior to their game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen taking a knee during the National Anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: The Los Angeles Chargers during the National Anthem before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Cheifs are seen during National Anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 24: Green Bay Packers players sit in protest during the national anthem prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: The Kansas City Chiefs during national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 24: The bench of the Seattle Seahawks remains empty during the national anthem prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: The Los Angeles Chargers are seen during national anthem before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 24: at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Oakland Raiders players sit during the national anthem before they take on the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Oakland Raiders players sit during the national anthem before they take on the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Anderson #52 of the Washington Redskins locks arms with teammates as they kneel and stand in unison during the national anthem before playing against the Oakland Raiders at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)