Broncos LB Brandon Marshall took a knee during the National Anthem prior to Thursday's Panthers-Broncos game, saying that he was moved to do so "by the wave of police brutality that occurred this summer," according to Cameron Wolfe of the DENVER POST. Marshall said, "I'm not against the military. I'm not against the police or America. I'm just against social injustice. I'm proud of it. I don't regret it. I know this is right." He added, "I feel like this is the right platform. I feel like this is our only platform to be heard. A lot of time people want us to just shut up and entertain them. Shut up and play football. But we have voices as well." Marshall, who was a college teammate of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, said that he will "donate an undisclosed amount to several charities to help veterans and mend many social injustices." He has "already decided Wounded Warriors will be one and he'll select at least two more with further research." Marshall: "I could lose endorsements. I could lose likability. I could lose my credibility in my community when I want to do things. I could lose that. ... I feel good about (his protest). As a man, you can go home and put your head on your pillow and feel good with what you believe and what you stand in, then that's OK with me" (DENVER POST, 9/9). NBC’s Al Michaels during the broadcast of Thursday game said, "The National Anthem has become the big story. You saw all of the Panthers standing and except for Brandon Marshall ... the rest of the Broncos were standing." Michaels: “That will be the story at every stadium this weekend. It was over the past two weeks of the preseason” (“Panthers-Broncos,” NBC, 9/8).
LET'S HAVE A CHAT: Marshall said that he "believes taking a knee during the anthem is a way to 'create dialogue.'" Marshall: "The more people do it, the more it's seen -- there's going to be hate mail, hate comments, but at the same time, people will talk about it" (ESPN.com, 9/8). THE MMQB's Robert Klemko reports Marshall "only told a small circle of people he'd been considering following" in Kaepernick's footsteps. The Broncos, his teammates and the coaching staff "didn't know" (MMQB.SI.com, 9/9). Broncos LB Von Miller said that he "supports Marshall and Kaepernick's protests and believes social change is needed even though he plans to continue to stand during the national anthem" (NFL.com, 9/9).
ALL TOGETHER NOW: Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin on Thursday tweeted the entire team "will honor the country and flag in a pregame demonstration of unity" prior to Sunday's home game against the Dolphins as a way to "express a desire to bring people together." In Seattle, Larry Stone writes there is a "strong indication" that the Seahawks' protest will "not involve sitting or kneeling during the anthem." However, it is "not known" if CB Jeremy Lane will continue to kneel during the National Anthem. Former Seahawks practice squad member Nate Boyer, a former green beret, on Thursday talked to several players and tweeted the team will engage in a "powerful sign of unification + respect for the Anthem + those that fight for our Freedom!" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/9). In Seattle, Bob Condotta notes the Seahawks on Thursday "appeared to have taken a team-wide vow of relative silence on the issue." Baldwin, asked to elaborate on his tweet, said, "You'll just have to wait until Sunday." Seahawks S Earl Thomas indicated that he had not heard if there had been more discussions about what to do during the Anthem. He said, "No one has told me anything" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/9). VICE SPORTS' Sean Newell wrote if the Seahawks do protest the Anthem as a team, it will "likely cause a big to do," as Sunday is the "15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks" (SPORTS.VICE.com, 9/8). Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Ryan DiPentima noted there has been "no indication that the Dolphins have made any plans to join the Seahawks in protest." DiPentima: "If they were to do so, coach Adam Gase has already stated that he will not discourage them" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/8).
