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Football is back as the NFL kicks off preseason play. To the pleasure of fans, the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets faced off Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game.
Viewers got an interesting introduction to the 2023 season during the pregame festivities. Former NFL star DeMarcus Ware sang the national anthem.
There are a number of headlines surrounding Thursday’s matchup.
While starting quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers didn’t play, backup Zach Wilson did. The former first-round pick completed 3 of 5 passes for 65 yards in limited action.
Wilson’s girlfriend also went viral ahead of his first game of the year.
But like many preseason contests, particularly early in the schedule, the action on the field has been slow. At the time of this writing, the Jets lead 16-7 as viewers watch reserves battle it out for 60 minutes.
Maybe the most entertaining part of the night came before kickoff with DeMarcus Ware singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee DeMarcus Ware sings the National Anthem ahead of kickoff! pic.twitter.com/rP5XXNxXr1
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 4, 2023
Music has always been a big part of Ware’s life, calling it his first love in an essay on the Player’s Tribune.
I fell in love with [music] through my voice. Sometime around grade school, I started singing. I’m not even totally sure when, or how, or why. But it was one of those things where, once singing entered my life, I suddenly couldn’t remember life without it. I couldn’t get enough. Church, school, the shower, you name it — if I was there, I’d be singing.
Fans immediately responded to his recent performance on social media. The replies consisted of a mixed bag of reaction.
Some were impressed with Ware’s singing.
And he nailed it 🔥
— © (@c43los) August 4, 2023
“He was very good,” this fan wrote.
That is the toughest song to sing in public – for a non-professional, he was very good – 👏👏👏❤💪
— MaryAnne 💚🤍💜 (@Maxie18537862) August 4, 2023
Others disagreed.
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) August 4, 2023
“Now we know why he played football,” one person said.
Now we know why he played football 😂
— Max Powers (@MaxPowers44) August 4, 2023
“He’s so out of key the doors locked,” commented another.
bro, he so out of key the doors locked
— Fame (@youFamousEnough) August 4, 2023
In the end, it’s hard to hate on DeMarcus Ware’s national anthem. He reportedly performed in honor of his late teammate Demaryius Thomas.
Y’all shoulda made the context more clear. He did good pic.twitter.com/qc8ucT58j4
— HOT TAKES ANA (free agency WE MOVE) (@FootballGirlAna) August 4, 2023
That’s an awesome gesture no matter where you stand on the performance.