Kaepernick and Tavarres could both be considered fringe players to make their teams’ 53-man rosters.
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Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz held an open forum during a meeting Monday to discuss Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit down for the national anthem, according to multiple players in attendance.
Colin Kaepernick might have started a trend.
Coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday that the team has no rule about standing for the national anthem, but …
I feel passionate about racial issues going on in our country and I thought that sitting during the National Anthem would bring more awareness to this issue and encourage more constructive discussion to find solutions, but I feel I only made things worse. “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem”.
“The NFL wants us to be role models and upstanding citizens, but if we ignore the issues, what kind of message are we sending to the people coming up behind us? Believe me, I definitely thought about it”, Tavarres told ESPN’s Tim McManus. “His coaches at Incarnate Word and I advised him to stand”, Williams said.
Not everyone shares the view of Kaepernick.
His protest has drawn criticism from the sporting world as well as from the public, with former teammate Alex Boone, 29, the latest to come forward. Refusing to stand, that’s one thing and it offends me, it really does, but that’s free speech. People are losing their life, and you don’t have the common courtesy to do that. “It’s just a touchy subject so I just refrain from really making any statements about it”.
Boone, who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco before later joining Minnesota, accused the 49ers player of “disrespect”. Tavarres said “Oh, I thought about it”. “But I’ve got family, like close aunts and cousins, uncles in the military, so you’ve got to just respect that side of it, too”.
He later modified his comments with a Twitter message: “I apologize for misspeaking my true sentiments”.
“I would support him either way”.
“What kind of African-American would I be if I didn’t stand my ground on this issue we have today?”
San Francisco 49ers’ Torrey Smith and Colin Kaepernick enjoy Smith’s 76-yard touchdown reception on sideline in 2nd quarter against Baltimore Ravens during National Football League game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 18, 2015.
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The police union also invited Kaepernick to visit the San Francisco police academy to better understand the profession and improve communication. “I don t see that happening”, Modkins added. “Some are so affected they never return to the streets”.
