The name of former Arizona State star Pat Tillman, who died in Afghanistan after leaving the NFL to serve in the U.S. Army, has been invoked by President Trump and others during the ongoing debate about NFL national anthem protests.
On Monday, Trump retweeted this tweet as part of his assertion that all NFL players should stand during the national anthem.
NFLplayer PatTillman joined U.S. Army in 2002. He was killed in action 2004. He fought 4our country/freedom. #StandForOurAnthem #BoycottNFL pic.twitter.com/k1FXHRoozY
— ?ay (@jayMAGA45) September 24, 2017
On Monday, Pat Tillman's widow Marie said her late husband's name should never be used for political purposes. Also on Monday, former ASU and Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer weighed in on what his ex-teammate would think about players who kneel or take a knee during the national anthem.
In a series of tweets Monday, Plummer, who played alongside Tillman at both ASU and with the Cardinals, said he wishes Tillman was here to provide clarity on what his position would be regarding anthem protests, and he said Tillman was a strong advocate of freedom of speech. Plummer also said ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez was "spot on" after Gomez suggested Tillman would have taken a knee alongside other NFL players.
wish he was here 2tell us. I know he enjoyed our constitutional right 2free speech&I think he would enjoy the conversation that's started
— Jake Plummer (@snakestakes) September 25, 2017
I knew Pat a little. We had several conversations over the years. I'm fairly certain he would have taken a knee yesterday.
— Pedro Gomez (@pedrogomezESPN) September 25, 2017
I knew PT and @pedrogomezESPN is spot on with his assessment.
— Jake Plummer (@snakestakes) September 25, 2017
Plummer also took issue with a fan who insisted Tillman wouldn't have had any part of the anthem protests.
One thing for sure is PT wouldn't be on Twitter, this is nonsense, you and all the others out there didn't know him, how can you speak 4him?
— Jake Plummer (@snakestakes) September 25, 2017
