The NFL is back and the subject of national anthem protests is already taking the spotlight. Colin Kaepernick continues to be out of work following his season of anthem protests. Marshawn Lynch is back in the league and has already generated buzz surrounding his anthem protests following the deadly violence erupting in Charlottesville this past weekend. Michael Bennett did the same in Seattle. At least one NFL coach reportedly asked his players to not take a knee during the anthem, and other coaches around the league are being asked for their thoughts on how to handle potential national anthem protests.
In Los Angeles, Rams linebacker Robert Quinn will continue raising a fist as he did last season rather than take a knee or a seat on the bench during the national anthem. Quinn said he has discussed his plan to demonstrate with Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the two managed to come to an understanding and agreement on the best possible way for Quinn to deliver his message without being a so-called distraction to his team.
“[Me] and Coach had a conversation, and I think we got on the same page. This is my belief. This is where I stand,” Quinn told The Orange County Register. “I’m going to do my best not to make it a distraction for our team, and let’s just go on about football. But I will make a stand when I need to.”
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Brown is aware there may be a desire for players to express themselves in similar fashions to Kaepernick or Quinn, and he is just hoping it does not become an issue that distracts from football in Cleveland. He has not yet talked about the issue with his team at the time of meeting with reporters on Monday, and it sounds as though he had no intent to do so until needed.
“I understand there is a lot going on in the world. I like to just keep it here. What we deal with, we try to deal with as a team in our closed environment. We talk about things,” Jackson said, per Cleveland.com. “Hopefully, that won’t happen. I can’t tell you it won’t happen, but I just know our guys, and I don’t think that is where our focus is. We hope the things that are going on in the world get ironed out, but I know right now we are doing everything we can to get our football team better.”
So buckle up for another season of national anthem debates with tempers flaring over the issue on TV screens and on Twitter and beyond.
[Orange County Register/Cleveland.com]
