national anthem DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 26: A large flag is held on Ford Field during the National Anthem on November 26, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jeremy Rafter/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is taking it upon himself to send a message about social values and injustices he sees in the United States. His decision to not stand during the national anthem before games has generated plenty of buzz and sparked discussion on such issues off the field, and he will not be alone in sitting out the national anthem.

Myke Tavarres, a rookie linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, says he will follow Kaepernick’s lead and sit out of the pregame national anthem as well.

Tavarres admitted to coming close to sitting out of the national anthem prior to the Eagles’ preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he said he will plan on doing so when the Eagles take on the New York Jets in the final preseason game of the year on Thursday night.

“Oh, I thought about it. Believe me, I definitely thought about it,” Tavarres said of sitting Saturday night. “And usually I’m front and center on the line with the rest of the guys, and that’s since pre-K all the way up. Saturday’s game, I stepped back, I was in the background, and it didn’t feel right to me at all, and so I will be taking a stand — or sitting down — for the fourth game.”

Kudos to Tavarres for taking a stand for something he believes in, but one has to wonder just how loud his message will be heard compared to the feathers Kaepernick has ruffled in recent days. Unlike Kaepernick, Tavarres is fighting for a roster spot as an undrafted free agent out of Incarnate Word.

There is no indication the Eagles would hold taking an individual stand in their uniform against the rookie, nor would it be a typical Eagles move to cut a player for such a story. Remember, this is the franchise that signed Mike Vick out of prison and held on to Riley Cooper. Tavarres being cut because he does not stand for the national anthem doesn’t seem like something the Eagles would do now on principle.

Tavarres is not concerned about any of that though, knowing he has nothing to lose to stand for what he believes.

“In this situation, I’ve really got nothing to lose,” he said. “I’m a rookie free agent, haven’t signed any major contract, so there’s not a lot of money on the line, I don’t have any big endorsement deals on the line. Really what’s at stake is my pride and what kind of man would I be and what kind of African-American would I be if I didn’t stand my ground on this issue we have today?

“[It] needs to be done. Will there be backlash? Probably. I don’t think anyone has bought my jersey yet, so I don’t know if it’s going to be burned, but it’s a major issue and I’m definitely going to stand my ground for this one.”

As you might suspect, Tavarres has been on the receiving end of some mind-numbing comments on Twitter.

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.