The NFL said on Friday it will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States during games on Sunday, the same day when some players plan to protest during the US national anthem.
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“I’m just against social injustice”, Marshall said after Thursday’s win, according to the Denver Post’s Nicki Jhabvala.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision not to stand for the anthem during the preseason, a protest against the way African-Americans and other minorities are treated in American society, has had a ripple effect throughout the National Football League, with other players following suit.
“I’m not against the police”.
Pagano’s point is that, while he has great respect for the armed forces and military members around the world, he also recognizes that those people are fighting to preserve the freedom we have in America.
A 9/11 decal will be placed on players’ helmets while all team coaching staffs will be supplied with 9/11 lapel pins. Marshall spoke after the game and was ready for the barrage of questions that were bound to come his way during his meeting with the press. “Every time he does something or every time he’s been in the media for something negative or even something positive, I get all the criticism. I personally believe very strongly in that”.
Marshall had not commented on AAFCU’s decision as of Friday afternoon but said Thursday night that he expected backlash, despite making clear that his protest was not meant to be a sign of disrespect to the military. He said Virgil Green was the only teammate he trust on the Denver Broncos that he told before the contest that he wouldn’t stand during the national anthem.
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“Honestly, I’m a man of faith”, Marshall said, “so I prayed about it long and hard, and I feel like it was the right thing to do”. In the eyes of a lot of people, I’ll be respected. It’s nearly like they want us to only go with the grain. “So when we have an opinion and we speak it, I feel like a lot of people bash us for what we have to say”.
