NFL season opens up with many more national anthem protests

During the NFL preseason, Colin Kaepernick made headlines when he refused to stand during the National Anthem. As expected, many players joined the cause prior to their first NFL regular season games.

Some players sat, some stood and locked arms, some raised their fists in the air, and some did any number of different combinations of those gestures. Despite their different ways of speaking out during the anthem, many players made similar statements during the first Sunday of the NFL season.

Four Dolphins kneel during the anthem including @ArianFoster while the Seahawks stand with their arms-locked. Good for the Dolphins.

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 11, 2016

Several Dolphins players, including Arian Foster, knelt during the national anthem. https://t.co/VJj8eRRXu7 pic.twitter.com/MXdCI4uI0t

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/775077140656189440

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/775142354118406146

https://twitter.com/GregYRN/status/775017526241615873

Respect to Bennett and McCourty. pic.twitter.com/GsB6sQj02n

— Alex (@AGreenberg22) September 12, 2016

There you go. After all the speculation. Seahawks players & coaches all linked arms in unity during anthem #MIAvsSEA pic.twitter.com/LgfROF5kdB

— Greg Thies | KING5 (@K5Greg) September 11, 2016

Not all football players and athletes in general agreed with the protests either.

https://twitter.com/ChristianYelich/status/775076749197602816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

I choose to stand. Remembering all those who lost their lives 15 years ago on 9/11. Also, the countless who’ve given their lives defending our freedom here at home. #NeverForget #PatriotDay

A photo posted by Justin Verlander (@justinverlander) on Sep 11, 2016 at 6:27am PDT

Even Verlander’s fiancée, supermodel Kate Upton, spoke out for the same reasons as Verlander.

https://twitter.com/KateUpton/status/775092537707077632?lang=en

https://twitter.com/KateUpton/status/775093441676075008?lang=en

After his game, Arian Foster spoke out to people like Upton and Verlander who disagreed with him.

"If kneeling for your flag is disrespectful then kneeling for your God is disrespectful," Arian Foster said. pic.twitter.com/hpfzxw4meW

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) September 11, 2016

Overall it was an interesting first Sunday of the NFL season. Many notable players chose to protest and many others chose to simply stand for the National Anthem.

One thing is for sure after this first Sunday too- the players made a statement and it was heard.