Widespread protest from Raiders during Sunday Night Football anthem

LANDOVER, Md. — Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano kneeled, his back to the U.S. flag.

Running back Marshawn Lynch sat on a sideline cooler, a spot he assumed during the pre-game anthem of the preseason and first two regular-season weeks. This time, he had company, as running back DeAndre Washington, wide receiver Michael Crabtree and wide receiver Johnny Holton joined him.

More than a dozen Raiders players sat on a bench with interlocked arms. Some like quarterback Derek Carr stood; his eyes were closed.

All were together.

No Raiders player or coach stood alone Sunday evening for the national anthem before a game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The team stood behind the area at which it typically resides, herding together in a show of unity. Owner Mark Davis stood in a suite box watching, right hand over his heart.

Sideline demonstrations were seen on every NFL sideline Sunday.

This followed a Friday rally in Alabama at which President Donald Trump told a crowd that owners should “fire” any player who protests during the anthem, calling such players a “son of a bitch.”

According to the game’s NBC broadcast, the Raiders wanted to boycott the entire national anthem like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. But with it being a primetime game, the club would’ve forfeited the coin toss and received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Raiders won the toss and elected to receive the ball.

Carr threw an interception on the opening series, which Washington converted to a 7-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown catch by running back Chris Thompson.

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Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.