Mike Evans SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

On the first NFL Sunday after Election Day, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans became the latest NFL player to protest during the national anthem, but that was apparently just a one game thing. Evans says he will stand during the national anthem moving forward.

Evans chose to sit during the national anthem this past week as a form of protest against President-Elect Donald Trump, who received the votes necessary in the electoral college to be elected President of the United States despite losing the nation’s popular vote to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump has long been a controversial figure, and his election as president has already led to even more concern over how his staff is coming together. Evans chose to use the national anthem this past week to show where he stands on our President-Elect.

What made the decision to protest during the anthem even more high-profile this weekend was the Bucs were among the many NFL teams taking time to honor armed servicemen and women in honor of Veterans Day.

Just as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has received criticism from all angles for his national anthem protest movement this season, Evans received a good amount of heat on social media for his protest. One notable critic of Evans was Sage Steele of ESPN. Now, Evans is letting the world know he is done with his protest.

What is unknown is if this truly was a one game thing for Evans from the start, or if he is giving in to social pressure to stand for the anthem. Evans apologized to military members and others he may have offended with his protest. From ESPN;

“I want to start by apologizing to all the U.S. military members, their families, and the fans who I offended by my actions on Sunday,” Evans said in the statement. “It was never my intention as I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve our country.

“I have very strong emotions regarding some of the many issues that exist in our society today. I chose to sit as an expression of my frustration towards this year’s election. It was very personal for me, as it was for so many Americans.

“With that being said, I will not sit again during the National Anthem because I want to focus my efforts on finding more effective ways to communicate my message and bring about change by supporting organizations and movements that fight for equal rights for minorities.

“This Sunday, I will be back to standing with my teammates.”

And just think, Trump hasn’t even been inaugurated yet. We could have four years of this coming our way, folks.

[ESPN]

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.

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