The crowd in New Orleans booed the team heartily but not for the reason you might think. All of the players stood for the National Anthem but before that the announcer asked people for a moment of silence for a slain black New Orleans police officer and the players remained on their knees.
What happened to Officer McNeil?
McNeil was one of four officers patrolling an area around 12:15 a.m. Friday when they “saw something that aroused their suspicion,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison told NOLA.com in a separate story.
When at least one officer exited a police car, a gunman opened fire and struck McNeil several times, the outlet reported.
McNeil collapsed at the scene and was pronounced dead at a hospital, NOLA.com said.
The gunman was shot several times and later surrendered to a SWAT team, Harrison told the outlet, which reported that the gunman was arrested and is recovering at a hospital.
McNeil was sworn in as an officer April 2, 2015, and is survived by his wife and two children, ages 2 and 5, NOLA.com reported.
Here are some tweets from the fans
@Saints ?KNEEL
During Tribute For Murdered Officer?@NFL Disrespects Our FLAG?? and Fallen HERO’S?#BoycottNFL
? https://t.co/i2ZWFdcimV— Theresa Bailey (@tbailey5477) October 16, 2017
I know. A cop who prolly was a fan…smh you’re right, disgusting.
— JamesMcLean (@outcold1) October 16, 2017
Fans boo kneeling New Orleans Saints players during tribute to fallen NOPD officer https://t.co/ms17EnNuJ3 .. like Trump said SOB’s!!
— Michael Graham (@m1ke1229) October 16, 2017
Real classy to kneel during the moment of silence for a fallen officer @Saints @NFL https://t.co/evA2MWdA9x
— Cluster Fox 23 ?? (@ClusterFox23) October 16, 2017
