Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addresses national anthem stance, says he will listen to players

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones began his first public comments since the May 25 death of George Floyd with a premise.

“Everybody in this country knows where I stand and where the Cowboys stand when it comes to the flag,” Jones said in a Wednesday news conference. “Everybody also understands where I stand on backing our players—the Dallas Cowboys players.”

Where Jones stands, as of mid-August, isn’t explicitly for or against kneeling during the national anthem, a point of disagreement among many players and several owners across the league since Colin Kaepernick first kneeled in 2016.

Where Jones stands, he says, is looking to embody the word “grace.”

“That was then, two years ago,” Jones said of his 2018 stance that players must stand, “toe on the line,” for the anthem. “This is now. We’ve had very, very sensitive times.

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“I have nothing to prove as far as where I’m standing with the flag and where the Cowboys stand. I have nothing to prove regarding my players and my support of the players. What I do want us to show and be a part of is a word called ‘grace.’ Not only grace in our actions but grace in our understanding of where they’re coming from. I want our players to understand the perception of where they’re coming from regarding flag and the sensitivity there and the many memories there. I want our fans to understand…where our players are coming from.

“The ones who want to basically do that, to kneel, do not feel like they’re dishonoring the flag.”

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Jones said he’ll factor in both sides—sentimentality for the American flag, and frustration regarding social injustices in the country—as the team decides how to handle the anthem as soon as the scheduled Sept. 13 opener.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, however, needs no convincing.

Prescott said he’ll fully support teammates who want to kneel during the anthem.

“That’s what this country is about, right? That we all have that choice,” Prescott said. “I think that’s the greatest part about this country, that we all have that choice. We have the choice to do as we please, whether to kneel or believe in this religion or that religion, to come from this background and still make it, come from this economic deal or be burdened by oppression and still overcome.

“Hundred percent, I support anybody’s personal opinion.”

Prescott’s personal opinions have led him to action since the death of Floyd. In June, Prescott pledged $1 million to support police reform. He explained Wednesday that he doesn’t believe defunding police departments is the answer, but he does believe there’s corruption that needs to be reformed from within. Prescott is among Cowboys players who in recent years have worked with local police officers, judges and more to consider how to build trust between law enforcement and North Texas communities.

Prescott also wrote a letter to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in support of releasing Julius Jones, a Black death row inmate sentenced to death in 1999.

“There was just so much wrong within that, so much wrong within his conviction, so much wrong with his trial, that I simply felt obligated to do something about it and write a letter and try to make some change with that,” Prescott said.

Jones said he’s “so proud” of Prescott for using his platform in that manner.

“Those are the active aspects needed to address the issue and help social justice,” the owner and general manager said.

Meanwhile, Prescott declined to criticize Jones’ previous social justice silence throughout the summer months. Prescott acknowledged the delicate balance between listening and speaking, particularly for Jones. Prescott, who identifies as Black and multiracial, said that even as the quarterback of a storied franchise, he begins to worry whenever he hears sirens about police pulling him over.

“You want leaders to come out and you want leaders to speak but you also have to look at their perspective and understand why they are doing what they are doing,” Prescott said. “I try to take in other people’s perspective before I immediately go to judge them and hopefully that is what he was doing. He was trying to listen and gather everything he can before he came out and said his simple view. Cause his background and his beliefs, all that is different than a lot of other people.

“Not that he can't relate but it may be tough for him to relate to what other people may be going through right now.”

Jones insists he has been listening, as he considers perspectives from current and former Cowboys as well as from former presidents.

“I have rabbit ears,” he said. “I really do. Having said that, I am listening. We will do it in the way we think is as sensitive and has as much grace for the genuine feelings of everyone in mind.

“I want to show the world I can do it with grace and come up with the right solution.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein