NFL

Jets coach: We can’t let Trump’s attacks distract from real issues

Jets coach Todd Bowles hopes people focus on the issues and not the rhetoric after President Trump’s comments disparaging NFL players who protest.

“My personal reaction?” Bowles said Monday. “Honestly, in my mind, to me it’s no different than a fan saying something when you’re coming through the tunnel. You’ve got to put that out of mind. The biggest problem here is the issues. Like I said, if you focus on the issues, who is saying what doesn’t matter. Whether it’s the president, whether it’s another player in another sport, whether it’s a fan, it really doesn’t matter if you don’t focus on the issues. The issues are the things that happened. You’ve got Charlottesville. You’ve got Hurricane victims here and there. You’ve got to focus on the issues. The he said, she said and the Twitter beef and all that stuff doesn’t really matter.”

The Jets talked about Trump’s comments on Saturday night and decided to lock arms along the sideline during the national anthem before Sunday’s game with the Dolphins.

“We locked arms because we’re united,” Bowles said. “We’re trying to show we can get things done as a country if we unite together. We’re trying to show unity in our team. We’re trying to show unity for our league. And we’re trying to show unity for all togetherness.”

Bowles said he did not hear from any Jets players who wanted to kneel instead of locking arms.

“Not to my knowledge,” Bowles said. “Everybody had a chance to voice their opinion. If somebody felt that way, they sure didn’t say it. So, I don’t think so.”

It is unclear if the Jets will continue to lock arms during the anthem or if Sunday was a one-time thing.

“We’ll get together and discuss it,” quarterback Josh McCown said. “I don’t know if we’re that far along yet. I think as a group and as a unit we’ll discuss that and see where it takes us. I’m not opposed to it. I just don’t know where we’re at right now with it and what we’ll do moving forward.”


Bowles said X-rays were negative on RB Matt Forte (toe), LB Josh Martin (ankle) and WR Charone Peake (ankle), who all left Sunday’s game. They will be monitored through the week to see if they can play Sunday against the Jaguars. … Bowles said RG Brian Winters (abdomen), who missed Sunday’s game, is feeling better, but also would need to be monitored this week. … The six points allowed by the Jets on Sunday are the fewest allowed by the team since Bowles became head coach. They are the fewest since Dec. 2, 2012, when they beat the Cardinals 7-6.