Terricka Cromartie, wife of former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was released from the team on Oct. 4, is claiming her husband was dropped for protesting during the national anthem.
During a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month, Antonio Cromartie took a knee and raised his fist in protest, and now his wife is claiming the move cost him his job.
The athlete’s wife, in a since deleted Instagram post, made the assertion after hearing Colts owner Jim Irsay say an NFL game is the “wrong venue” for such a demonstration.
“It hasn’t been a positive thing. What we all have to be aware of as players, owners, PR people, equipment managers, is when the lights go on we are entertainment,” Irsay told USA Today earlier this week. We are being paid to put on a show. There are other places to express yourself.”
In response, Terricka Cromartie had this to say, via ESPN:
You are Nothing More than an Entertainer. Just Shut and do what we say. You have No rights as along as you are working for me.. there are other places for you to fight and stand for what you believe.
One things for sure I know my husband was told Not to take a Knee and he went with his heart and he took one. And that cost him his Job.. and Clearly this Statement backs that up… Just a Paid To put on a show.
In an Instagram post of his own, Antonio Cromartie fell short of acknowledging being dropped by the Colts, but did offer an explanation for his protest:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLzMjEbju7_/