Kevin Blackistone joined Tuesday's Off the Ball to discuss the current turmoil in the NFL.
Players across the league have been taking a knee during the national anthem in protest against comments by President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Joe Molloy, he said: "Well part of me was disappointed that it took a challenge to their manhood by Donald Trump to get them to demonstrate in the manner that they did, mimicking Colin Kaepernick, who started the protest over a year ago against the extra-judicial killing of black men in this country which has gone pretty much unchecked by the judicial system.
"But on the other hand, I was at least glad to see these football players stand up for something that they believe in.
"As far as the owners involvement in it, I found myself in a difficult place trying to embrace that. I suspected there are some owners who have their hearts in the right place and want to support their players and maybe even wanted to take a stance against Donald Trump.
"But the fact of the matter is that the owners and the players are usually diametrically opposed on issues - this wasn't their issue. Most of them did not support Colin Kaepernick - most of them financially supported the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.
Dallas Cowboys fan holds a sign as he stands during the national anthem. Picture by: USA TODAY Network/SIPA USA/PA Images
"And quite frankly I thought that their involvement took some of the sting away - I thought it somehow defined it, particularly last night with the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones, who has been very public in his distaste for anyone who would use the flag and the anthem as a platform for protest, joining arms with his players in a negotiated event and kneeling for a few seconds and then rising before the national anthem was even played.
"So I don't even know if I can consider that a protest and then afterwards, Jerry Jones speaking for his players, saying they did this out of a show of unity and that's not why Colin Kaepernick took the struggle of the Black Lives Matter movement to the football field," he added.
The full discussion can be heard here:
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