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VERIFY: Did Eagles players kneel in protest during the National Anthem?

Fox News implied Pres. Trump uninvited the Philadelphia Eagles over photos of players kneeling in protest during the national anthem, but was this really the case?
Credit: Charles LeClaire
Feb 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) kneels as his touchdown is reviewed during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium.

QUESTION:

Fox News implied Pres. Trump uninvited the Philadelphia Eagles over photos of players kneeling in protest during the national anthem. Was this really the case?

ANSWER:

No, the players were kneeling in prayer.

SOURCES:

Chris Long (Eagles Defensive End) Tweet

Zach Ertz (Eagles Tight End) Tweet

Torrey Smith (former Eagles Wide Receiver) Tweet

Fox News apology Tweet

Samuel Gardener- Sports Expert CBS3 in Philly

Kristi Roehm- Eagles' Chris Long and Malcom Jenkin's manager

PROCESS:

The last football season was a politically contentious one. Players kneeling to protest racial inequality and police brutality snowballed into fans calling the league unpatriotic, evoking the ire of Pres. Trump.

And then on Monday, he pulled his invitation to the White House for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

"The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!" the president tweeted.

On Tuesday, Fox News aired photos of Eagles players kneeling while discussing the news that the players had been uninvited, implying this was their punishment for protesting during the anthem.

One of the photos featured on Fox News portrayed Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who was quick to shame the organization, calling the move "propaganda."

Eagles players past and present joined in on social media, condemning Fox News for misrepresenting images of them.

They were praying on the football field, not kneeling in protest during the national anthem. In fact, none of the regular season Eagles players took a knee during the anthem over the course of the 2017-18 football season.

Some players pray before games, but it's an NFL tradition for all Christian players to kneel in prayer following a game.

Fox News has since removed their tweet and web article referencing the photos. Their executive producer tweeted an apology saying they showed "unrelated footage of players kneeling in prayer," and said no Eagles player "knelt in protest during the national anthem throughout regular or post-season last year."

WUSA9 confirmed that with two of the players' managers and sports expert Samuel Gardener at the CBS affiliate in Philly.

So we can Verify that no, the photos aren't really of players kneeling during the anthem. Context is key.

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