After President Trump criticized NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, many more players and coaches joined the protest.

The Steelers were among three teams that took a different approach: They did not go onto the field during the anthem. This was the wrong decision. Players should have been given the right to protest during the anthem.

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said in an interview that he wanted to “remove (the team) from the circumstance.” Tomlin said the Steelers were not interested in the conflict that could come with protests of the anthem.

In a lot of ways, the Steelers were cowardly in this decision. They were silencing those on the team who would support the protests of racial injustice, while hiding those who disagree with the protests.

“People shouldn’t have to choose,” Tomlin said. “If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t have to be forced to choose sides… We came here to play a football game,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin greatly contradicted himself, considering he made the team stay inside during the anthem rather than exercise their First Amendment right to either protest or not.

Meanwhile, offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a U.S. Army veteran, chose his side by standing outside of the tunnel during the anthem. Because of this, any player who felt the need to kneel or to stand should have been out on the field during the anthem rather than being silenced.

Many may argue sports and politics should remain separate, but the fact that America’s most popular sport recognized these protests of oppression in America is a great use of a major platform. The issue of respect for a flag versus racial injustices would not have been talked about as much as it was this past weekend if NFL players had not brought this attention to it.

Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Penguins released a statement that they will be visiting the White House after Trump tweeted he was withdrawing the invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors after criticism by Stephen Curry.

The Penguins said they have previously attended the White House ceremonies after past championships and will again be attending this year. Although the Penguins stated they “very much respect the rights of other individuals and groups to express themselves as they see fit,” it will be interesting to see if any players decide not to attend the ceremony.

The intertwining of sports and politics is a newer form of protest, yet the platform is needed to bring attention to some of the most important issues facing the country.