Seahawks players berated by driver never staged public protests during national anthem

SEATTLE — An upset driver still irritated by protests staged by NFL players during the national anthem told Seahawks cornerbacks Neiko Thorpe and Mike Tyson to get off of their “little knees”.

The confrontation was recorded outside of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, the Seahawks’ headquarters and practice facility. According to the post, the woman followed the two players to work.

In a video posted on Twitter, the woman tells them to "stand up." She also tells the two members of the team's defensive backfield that her tax dollars pay for them to play. Click here to read more.

Michael Bennett, and other members of the Seahawks, remained seated during the national anthem before many of the team's games last season.

However, after looking through reports from ESPN and the Tacoma News Tribune KIRO 7 found that Neiko Thorpe and Mike Tyson never staged a public protest during the national anthem as the angry driver in Renton had asserted.

The following is a game-by-game breakdown of how players on the Seahawks demonstrated during the national anthem last season. Absent from the list, are Thorpe and Tyson:

Week 1: September 10, 2017 at Green Bay Packers 

ESPN reports show that defensive lineman Michael Bennett was the only Seahawks player who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's season opening loss against the Green Bay Packers.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that center Justin Britt, and running back Thomas Rawls stood with a hand on either of Bennett's shoulders during the national anthem while defensive end Cliff Avril sat on the bench at the end of the anthem. Click here to read more.

Week 2: September 17, 2017 vs. San Francisco 49ers 

ESPN reports show that defensive lineman Michael Bennett was the only Seahawks player who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's home win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that center Justin Britt, and running back Thomas Rawls stook with a hand on either of Bennett's shoulders while defensive ends Clfif Avril and Frank Clark sat on the bench at the end of the anthem. Click here to read more.

Week 3: September 24, 2017 at Tennessee Titans 

In response to comments from President Donald Trump at a rally in Alabama, both the Seahawks and the Titans stayed in the locker room during the national anthem. Click here to read more.

Both team's released statements explaining their protest. The Seahawks explained they "unite to oppose those that would deny our most basic freedoms," while the Titans said "As a team we wanted to be unified in our actions today".

Week 4: October 1, 2017 vs. Indianapolis Colts 

ESPN reports show that Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Frank Clark, Jarran Reed, Sheldon Richardson, Marcus Smith, Nazair Jones, Garrison Smith, and Michael Wilhoite were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's Sunday Night Football victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that defensive end Dion Jordan stood next to Michael Wilhoite with a hand on Wilhoite's shoulder, while Justin Britt and Oday Aboushi placed a hand on either of Avril's shoulders. Click here to read more.

Week 5: October 8, 2017 at Los Angeles Rams 

All members of the Seahawks stood during the national anthem before the team's road win against the Los Angeles Rams to honor the victims of the Las Vegas Massacre.

After the game, defensive end Frank Clark told Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, "The main reason that we stood was we want to pay our respect to those people who lost their lives in Las Vegas....It's not about the flag. It's not about disrespecting our military. That's not what this is really about. It's about social awareness of what's going on in our country, and the (need) for equality for all. That's what this is about. It's not about anything else, disrespecting…We are just going to continue to bring awareness to that and chance to enlighten the situation that is so dark. I feel like just doing it in a positive manner.There is a time and place for everything. And I feel like today was not the time, honestly, to sit down." Click here to read more.

Week 6: Bye Week 

Week 7: October 22, 2017 at New York Giants 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Sheldon Richardson, Frank Clark, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Branden Jackson and Nazair Jones were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's win against the New York Giants.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that "linebacker Michael Wilhoite took a knee while center Justin Britt stood with a supportive hand on Bennett's shoulder and guard Oday Aboushi did the same with Jones." Click here to read more.

Week 8: October 29, 2017 vs. Houston Texans 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson, Cliff Avril, Jarran Reed, Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson, Marcus Smith, Branden Jackson and Nazair Jones were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's win against the Houston Texans.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that "defensive lineman Dion Jordan stood next to those players along with offensive linemen Justin Britt and Oday Aboushi. Linebacker Michael Wilhoite again took a knee." Click here to read more.

Week 9: November 5, 2017 vs. Washington Redskins 

ESPN records show that Duane Brown, Michael Bennett, Jarran Reed, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Sheldon Richardson, Frank Clark and Branden Jackson were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's loss against the Washington Redskins.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that offensive linemen Justin Britt and Oday Aboushi stood next to the seated players, as they had done in recent weeks. Click here to read more.

Week 10: November 9, 2017 at Arizona Cardinals 

All members of the Seahawks stood during the national anthem before the team's Thursday Night Football victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

After the game, Michael Bennett told Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune that the team stood to honor the military ahead of Veterans Day.

"It was to signify that we are all with the military, and that we love them," Bennett said. "There's been this narrative that we don't care about the military. Today, we were honoring the military.... I know a lot of people did not expect us to stand. They have this narrative about us that is not true. I have a lot of family that were military (he is the son of a U.S. Navy man). It's never been about the military. If there is an opportunity to support them and be grateful for what they do, and the sacrifices, we want to be able to do that." Click here to read more.

Week 11: November 20, 2017 vs. Atlanta Falcons 

All members of the Seahawks stood during the national anthem before the team's Monday Night Football loss to the Atlanta Falcons, in honor of the NFL's Salute to Service campaign.

After the team's week 10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Bennett told Gregg Bell of the team's plans to honor veterans before the game against the Falcons. "And next weekend is Salute to Service (for the Seahawks). I am going to stand up for that game, too, to honor them (Military members)," Bennett said. Click here to read more.

Week 12: November 26, 2017 at San Francisco 49ers 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett, Frank Clark, Jarran Reed, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Cliff Avril, Nazair Jones, Sheldon Richardson and Dion Jordan were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that defensive tackle Branden Jackson and left tackle Duane Brown took a knee during the national anthem. Click here to read more.

Week 13: December 3, 2017 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett, Dion Jordan, Sheldon Richardson, Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson, Jarran Reed, Marcus Smith II and Branden Jackson all remained seated during the National Anthem before the team's Sunday Night Football win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that left tackle Duane Brown continued to kneel during the anthem, while Justin Britt stood next to Brown with a hand on his shoulder. Click here to read more.

Week 14: December 10, 2017 at Jacksonville Jaguars 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett Branden Jackson, Cliff Avril, Jarran Reed, Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson, Marcus Smith, Dion Jordan and Sheldon Richardson were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that left tackle kneeled during the anthem, while Justin Britt "stood next to him and held his hand on Brown's shoulder in a show of support." Click here to read more.

Week 15: December 17, 2017 vs. Los Angeles Rams 

ESPN records show that Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Nazair Jones, Dion Jordan, Sheldon Richardson, Marcus Smith III, Quinton Jefferson, Jarran Reed, Frank Clark and Branden Jackson were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that, just as in recent weeks, left tackle Duane Brown kneeled during the national anthem while Justin Britt stood next to him and held his shoulder in support. Click here to read more.

Week 16: December 24, 2017 at Dallas Cowboys 

ESPN records show that Nazair Jones, Sheldon Richardson, Dion Jordan, Jarran Reed, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Frank Clark, Paul Dawson and Branden Jackson were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that, "Left tackle Duane Brown again took a knee next to the group while center Justin Britt held his hand on Brown's shoulder in support." Click here to read more.

Week 17: December 31, 2017 vs Arizona Cardinals

ESPN records show that Dion Jordan, Paul Dawson, Frank Clark, Marcus Smith, Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson, Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson and Branden Jackson were the Seahawks who remained seated during the national anthem before the team's loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reported that, "Left tackle Duane Brown took a knee next to those players while center Justin Britt stood next to him with his hand on Brown's shoulder in support." Click here to read more.

Click here to follow Brady Henderson of ESPN on Twitter.

Click here to follow Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune on Twitter.

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