It looks like I have a new favorite player on the Steelers…
Alejandro Villanueva.
In the face of his entire team refusing to take the field for the National Anthem, Pittsburg Steeler Alejandro Villanueva boldly stood on the field – and stood up – for the National Anthem.
Thank you Mr. Villanueva, true American Patriot!
I never thought I’d live to see the day when our National Anthem somehow became controversial, but sadly it has.
Villanueva is a former Army Ranger, and it looks like he takes that very seriously. Â More people should follow his lead.
We here at AFP say THANK YOU to all our Military!
Take a look:
No Steelers were on the sideline during the anthem.
LT Alejandro Villanueva, a veteran who served in the Army, stood near the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/JOviLUAtiF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
Alejandro Villanueva was the only Steeler to come out for the National Anthem, standing in the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/L4EtxRQSvA
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 24, 2017
Former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva stood outside the tunnel alone during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/6KOZzSJj6q
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 24, 2017
Here’s more of the story, from SBNation:
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explained on Sunday morning why his team would remain in the locker room during the national anthem in Chicago. He didn’t want his team to be part of a political discussion, or there to be division in the locker room as a result of players protesting or not protesting. But in the end there was one player who took the field, offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Villanueva’s career in the NFL didn’t begin until 2014. Prior to that, he served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, where he served as a Captain in the army, as well as being an army ranger.
Villanueva was critical of Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protest in August of 2016, when he said:
“I don’t know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that’s providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year … when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year.”
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