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Rams, 49ers Players Continue National Anthem Protests; Kaepernick Moved By Support

Rams DE Robert Quinn and WR Kenny Britt last night "raised their fists" during the playing of the National Anthem prior to their game against the 49ers, joining the list of several NFLers who protested in the first week of the season, according to Jack Wang of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. Quinn had not spoken to 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick about the protests, but he and Britt "decided on their gesture over the weekend." Quinn said, "At the end of the day, we come over here to play football. But also, you have some might and power and a voice to allow yourself to be heard." Quinn and Britt joining this latest movement is "particularly notable" given what Rams coach Jeff Fisher "has said about the national anthem." In a scene captured in HBO's "Hard Knocks," Fisher "detailed a specific sideline routine for his team: offense on the right side, defense on the left, and helmets either held under left arm or not held at all." Quinn: "Fisher asked us to stand. I respect him enough to do that. It's to show awareness. Raise the fist, show support out there -- that you have support throughout this world and league. Didn't want to distract the team. Just wanted to have my right of freedom." Wang notes Quinn was "noncommittal about whether or not he would continue raising his fist during future pre-game anthems" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 9/13). Rams COO Kevin Demoff prior to the game indicated that he was "unaware of any planned protests." He said, "We want to help the players best express themselves so they get their point across and the people understand and respect their viewpoint." In L.A., Mike DiGiovanna notes Britt was "one of five players ... who entered the field before a game in St. Louis" in '14 "with their hands in the air in 'don’t shoot' poses, a show of support for protesters in Ferguson, Mo., where an unarmed black teenager was shot by a white police officer" in August '14 (L.A. TIMES, 9/13).

CREATING DIALOGUE: In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib noted Dolphins players "remained resolute" yesterday, saying they will "continue to demonstrate during the national anthem despite severe public backlash." Dolphins WR Kenny Stills: "It's something that we kind of expected but it's just disappointing." Dolphins RB Arian Foster: "It's important to create a healthy dialogue. It's easy for you to just sit here and say, 'Shut up, you stupid (N-word)' rather than saying, 'Why do you feel like that? And if you do feel like that, tell me more about it." Habib noted there have been "hints more players could join the protest in the coming weeks, though Foster said he could not predict what might happen Sunday" when the Dolphins play the Patriots. Stills "revealed there is a leaguewide text messaging group for players to address the issue." Foster: "Every man has a decision to make himself. I know a lot of people feel the same way but they don't want to ... have possible endorsements lost or possible, you know, public backlash" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/12). 

BAD TIMING? In Ft. Lauderdale, Andrew Abramson writes it is easy to say Foster, Stills and Dolphins S Michael Thomas and LB Jelani Jenkins "shouldn't have kneeled in front of the flag on the 15th anniversary of September 11th." Abramson: "But this debate ... has me pondering patriotism and what it really means. And that's the point." Thomas said, "I don't think everybody's even ready to admit there is a conversation that needs to be had. But there is. There's a conversation that needs to continue about inequality, injustice to minorities in the system. Something needs to be done. It wasn't an easy decision to do it on 9/11" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/13). In Miami, Greg Cote writes it "looked like" the Dolphins just picked the "wrong time" to join Kaepernick's protest. Cote: "But, is there ever just the right time for inconvenient truth? ... Maybe the anniversary of 9/11 was the perfect day to do what those Dolphins and others across the NFL did Sunday. What better day for protest, perhaps, than the day when we most defiantly and proudly cherish and celebrate the freedoms that terrorists seem to find so incomprehensibly objectionable" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/13).

COME TOGETHER: In Nashville, Jason Wolf notes Titans CB Jason McCourty, DE Jurrell Casey and LB Wesley Woodyard followed the National Anthem on Sunday by "thrusting their fists into the air" before their game against the Vikings at Nissan Stadium. Woodyard: "It's just important that we take our platform that we have and stand to support our community. There's a lot of things that have been going on in the black community. So we're here, just trying to show our right that we're standing for our brothers out there, and we are." Wolf notes the Titans players are "unsure if they will repeat the demonstration next week." McCourty: "I don't want it to be taken as something that was us trying to separate people. It was more trying to bring everyone together in solidarity and trying to come up with a solution" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/13).

NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Kaepernick said that he was "deeply moved by the level of support from players around the league and insisted he would not be deterred by the continuing furor." Kaepernick: "Nothing has ever been done without criticism. Every great change, whether it is revolution or evolution of things, there is always criticism and there is always that 'I don't like change' kind of mentality. In the long run they will see what is going on, they will see what is right, and they will understand" (USA TODAY, 9/13). ESPN's Lindsay Czarniak reported that 49ers S Eric Reid, who knelt next to Kaepernick last night, has had "conversations with Kaepernick where he knows the importance" of the support he has received from players throughout the league, but also the "ownership that Kaepernick now feels for this movement.” Reid indicated that there is "no timetable for when they will stand." Czarniak: "They have discussed the fact that it will come when there is adequate change, but they certainly haven’t gotten to that point yet” ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 9/12). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said Kaepernick has "proven to be a leader on this front, because some guys are willing to go out there with him" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 9/12). 

CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEGUN: ESPN's Steve Young noted Kaepernick "wanted to start a conversation, and certainly he has." Young: "With the conversation of social injustice, what he wanted to do is starting to be accomplished" ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 9/12). Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin, who helped organize the team's linked-arm show of unity Sunday, said, "If Colin Kaepernick didn't do what he did, we wouldn't be having this conversation" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 9/13). ESPN’s J.A. Adande noted Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross supporting the protesting players on his team "is the objective" of the movement. Adande: "That’s what Colin Kaepernick hoped to start, the conversation and the action” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 9/12). USA TODAY's Martin Rogers writes, "This thing has stuck. It has become contagious." The topic is "rolling right now, hot enough that people are talking on it who might not be qualified to do so." There is "little doubt that Kaepernick has uplifted some, empowered others, while drowning out the noise of his doubters with his steadfast refusal to be cowed." Rogers: "Hate on him if you must, but his conviction appears unshakeable" (USA TODAY, 9/13).

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