Anonymous Bengals player says owner 'begged' players not to kneel in 2017

An anonymous former Bengals player revealed that owner Mike Brown begged players not to kneel during the national anthem in 2017.

"He just begged, like really begged," the player told Elise Jesse of WLWT. "That was my first time seeing or hearing anything like that — very emotional. That was my only time seeing that it was different. The bottom line is that he was begging us, please do not kneel. He didn't want the backfire that was going to come from it."

Another anonymous player seemed to confirm the story, saying that Brown was fearful of retribution from fans.

"He pretty much says, 'I don't want you guys kneeling.' He said our fans will crush us," the player said.

According to former Bengals safety George Iloka, the players held a meeting in 2017 after Donald Trump said that owners should release any player that kneels. Before a game against the Green Bay Packers, players discussed kneeling in response to the president's statement.

"It was about 50 percent African Americans and 50 percent of my Caucasian brothers and it was only about 30 people," Iloka said Monday. "The meeting left pretty much just like, the African American players feeling like we want to kneel, and then it was the white players telling us, 'You guys don't need to do that.'"

The players did not end up kneeling but Brown's behavior clearly stuck with several players, who were likely not too pleased to see their team's owner so quick to shut down their concerns for the sake of not ruffling feathers. A team spokesperson released a statement defending Brown's behavior.

"Mr. Brown met with all players while the team was in Green Bay. A positive and open discussion ensued," a team spokesperson said in a statement to WLWT. "Mr. Brown shared with players his preference, but said he was not directing them what to do."