PHILADELPHIA -- Two days after President Donald Trump ripped into NFL players who decide to silently protest during the national anthem, Eagles players, black and white, locked arms with teammates, police officers and military members as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played before Sunday's home opener against the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field.
In addition to players, team owner Jeffery Lurie and team president Don Smolenski also took part.
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks decided not to link arms with his teammates, instead standing off to side by himself.
The act of solidarity was an obvious response to Trump's exhortation that NFL owners to fire players who do anything by stand during the anthem.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out," Trump said at a rally in Alabama. "He's fired! He's fired!"
Players around the NFL have been silently protesting since last season in an attempt to bring attention to what they perceive as unfair treatment of minorities. Unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the protests.
Trump blamed the protests by Kaepernick and other players for a dip in NFL television ratings.
"But do you know what's hurting the game more than that? When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they're playing our great national anthem," Trump said. "The only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it's one player, leave the stadium. I guarantee things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave."
The NFL responded to Trump's rant on Saturday in a statement, but didn't address the protests:
The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.
Additionally, at least 13 club owners issued statements on Saturday and Sunday in support of the players' work in the community and their right to protest.
Players around the league kneeled and locked arms during the anthem, including a large portion of players in the Baltimore Ravens game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here is video of the Eagles linking arm, and Kendricks standing off to the side:
Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.