*By Conor White*
The former NFL star Victor Cruz said the league's new rule requiring players on the field to stand during the national anthem exacerbates an us-against-them dynamic between owners and players.
"It just doesn't make sense to me," Cruz said in an interview Thursday with Cheddar. "I just don't understand why you're retracting a player's right to even protest or do anything that you wanted to do. It just feels like you're continuing the narrative that you're the player, and we're the hierarchy, and you have to listen to us, and pay attention, and do as we say."
The former New York Giants wide receiver vocalized what some current players have said they are feeling.
Last week, the NFL announced it would fine a team an undisclosed amount if any of its players were to kneel during the playing of the national anthem. Players can stay in the locker room during the anthem if they do not want to stand.
In an [interview with ESPN](http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/211882/victor-cruz-youve-got-to-respect-the-flag) in 2016, Cruz had said the American flag needed to be respected, and that he thought players should stand with their teammates during the anthem "regardless of how you feel about things that are going on in America."
Now, the 31 year old said NFL players should be able to express themselves.
"I still stand by those players who are protesting, fighting for a change, or fighting for the right things to be done, not only in the NFL, but across the world," Cruz said.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/victor-cruz-makes-an-impact-off-the-football-field).
Cheddar's Brad Smith sits down with Tough Mudder HQ senior vice president Cathrin Bowtell to discuss the brand's expansion. The company is opening Tough Mudder Bootcamp studios in Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas.
Olympic gold medal swimmer Dana Vollmer and Go Red For Women spokesperson Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum discuss ways to make sure your heart is healthy. Dana Vollmer has won the 4th most gold medals of any U.S. female Olympian.
Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer Dana Vollmer talks about what's going through athletes' minds as they prepare for the Games.
Cheddar's Brad Smith heads to Tough Mudder HQ in Brooklyn to work out with TMHQ senior manager, Chris Maltbie. Tough Mudder is announcing new locations of its fitness studio franchise, with Tough Mudder Bootcamp locations in Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas.
Disney reported earnings Tuesday and the most notable part of the report was the announcement that its new streaming service will be $5 a month. Rich Greenfield, Media Analyst at BTIG, joins Your Cheddar to discuss his thoughts on the announcement.
This Changes Things: Advice for the executives and leaders of tomorrow, brought to you by American Express OPEN. On Between Bells: Falcon Heavy launch, Olympic preview, and more. With Bacardi, FHM, and Entrepreneur.
The Olympics haven't even begun and the military is already being called. This time, however, North Korea has nothing to do with it. Almost a thousand military personnel have been sent to Pyeongchang after dozens of security guards fell ill from a norovirus outbreak.
The Olympics draws millions of people around the globe but it also attracts a higher risk of a cybersecurity attack. Travis Farral, Director of Security Strategy at Anomali, joins Cheddar to discuss certain risks to atheletes and tourists traveling to PyeongChang, SOuth Korea.
On Between Bells: More memos, more problems for both parties. Best Super Bowl ads, and Keeping Secrets with the Kardashians. With Rare Media, Gov. John W. Hickenlooper, The Young Turks, Diply, and Zimbio.
The Philadelphia Eagles may have won Super Bowl LII, but which brands delivered the most memorable advertisements? Diply's Dan Lagani joins Cheddar to discuss the factors to consider when picking a champion from the biggest night of the year for TV commercials.
