Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, following the lead of his college teammate, kneeled during the national anthem before the NFL’s kickoff opener Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.
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Last week, former New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason blasted Colin Kaepernick and his protesting the discrimination of African Americans in the United States by not standing for the national anthem.
It opened a wide debate and put the microscope on a pregame tradition that has, for decades, been routine.
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is not the only NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem before a football game.
Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said earlier in the preseason that “I want our guys to stand for the national anthem”.
Kaepernick was joined in his protest by teammate Eric Reid in the team’s final preseason game Thursday.
The 26-year-old told 247 Sports he understands where Kaepernick was coming from and supported him on the issue.
“When I look at the American flag, I see a bunch of fights”, Marshall said. I support him on that.
“I think it’s going to be an unbelievably moving ceremony in honor of those people”, Johnson said.
Marshall made it clear that he’ll be standing for the anthem before the Jets’ regular-season opener against the Bengals Sunday, also the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“Kaep, he’s using his platform how he wants to use it, to reach the masses”. And you know, and I know, your father served our country, and he’s one of the reasons we walk around with so much freedom today. It’s nearly like they want us to only go with the grain.
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“I think it’s something where there are a lot of players that really feel the same way”, Kaepernick said.
