Packers Fans Reject Team's Proposal to Link Arms During National Anthem as NFL Goes Into 'Crisis Mode'

The controversy over the national anthem has led to a 17 percent decline in ticket sales, according to reports.

Defiant football fans made their feelings known when the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears linked arms in solidarity prior to their game Thursday night.

Read: WWII Vet, 97, Takes Knee in Support of NFL Protests: 'Those Kids Have Every Right to Protest'

Fans chanted “USA! USA!” through Wisconsin's Lambeau Field as both teams put on a united front amid the recent national anthem controversy.

No Packers or Bears players took a knee during the anthem. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had asked fans to join the team's gesture by linking arms in the stands, but few did.

Instead, they saluted, or kept with tradition and held their hands over their hearts.

Rodgers said some fans even heckled him during the anthem.

The NFL is said to be in crisis mode over fan backlash toward the "take a knee" movement and ticket sales are reportedly down 17 percent from last week.

Read: Jordin Sparks Enters Kneeling Debate With Bible Verse on Her Hand as She Sang National Anthem

Ten team owners held an emergency meeting at NFL headquarters in Manhattan with a dozen players. The owners are reportedly urging athletes to stand for the national anthem, but will not force them to do so.

In Boston, there was a jersey burning party as a message to the Patriots players who took a knee during the anthem last Sunday.

Watch: NFL Rookie Deshaun Watson Gifts First Game Check to Cafeteria Workers Affected by Hurricane Harvey

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