Jason Garrett wants the Cowboys to handle the national anthem the right way

FRISCO Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has a process for everything, even how his team stands for the national anthem before games. He has them stand directly on the white line, while encouraging the players to use the time as a moment of reflection and appreciation.

“I think it’s a very important moment for us,” Garrett said. “It’s such a great tradition that we have not only in the National Football League, but in all of our professional sports and our country. I always try to remind our players to take that time. It’s a moment that we all have by ourselves that we can kind of reflect on the unbelievable opportunity that we have to be there, to be in that situation and to somehow get ourselves emotionally right to be our best and take full advantage of it.

Garrett declined to address what he would do if a player chose to sit during the national anthem as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did recently in protest of the treatment of minorities and people color in this country.

“I don’t want to get into hypotheticals,” Garrett said. “We just focus on our football team. I know it’s a great opportunity for our team before a game to sit there and reflect on the great opportunities that we have to do what we do in the greatest country in the world.”

Garrett remains bullish on the national anthem before games, what it means and what it stands for.

“We’re so fortunate to live in the country that we live in,” Garrett said. “It’s a great tradition. It’s a great song. In a lot of cases it can become an emotional situation for all of us. You think about all the people who have fought for our country and allowed us to raise that flag as proudly as we do, to live in the greatest land in the world. It’s a special moment for all of us. We want to make sure we handle it the right way.”

This story was originally published August 28, 2016 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Jason Garrett wants the Cowboys to handle the national anthem the right way."