“I think it’s the wrong venue,” Irsay told USA Today. “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. We are being paid to put on a show. There are other places to express yourself.”

That doesn’t indicate Irsay was speaking specifically about the impact the protests have had on television ratings, but it’s a rare statement from an NFL owner against the protests (and it’s probably fair to assume some owners believe the protests are affecting ratings)....

As Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star points out, the only Colts player who has taken a knee during the anthem was cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie was suddenly cut on Oct. 4 after a Colts loss at London. Doyel wrote that he wondered at the time if the move was over the protest. Terricka Cromartie, Antonio’s wife, wrote on Instagram after Irsay’s statement that she felt her husband was cut over protests. She also said Antonio was warned to not protest.

“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,” Terricka wrote on Instagram, according to the New York Post. “And that cost him his Job.. and Clearly this Statement backs that up.”