The NFL season started Thursday night and the national anthem protests continued. Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall took a knee during the national anthem before the game against the Carolina Panthers.
Marshall went down on one knee just before the anthem and remained kneeling until the song was finished. He has supported San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was Marshall's teammate in college and has opted to not stand during the national anthem. He said that he felt it was the right thing to do and he will continue to do it as the season goes on, according to ESPN.
All of the other players on both teams were standing during the anthem.
dallasfever: Brandon Marshall linebacker for Denver took a knee during t… NBC Sunday Night … https://t.co/YwcITqBF76 pic.twitter.com/DXL7LxfzF7
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 9, 2016
"I'm not against the military, police or America. I'm against social injustice," Marshall said. "I think the more people do it, the more it's seen -- there's going to be hate mail, hate comments, but at the same time, people will talk about it. Some people are going to stand by me, some people aren't. But I know my loved ones, the people that love me and care about me, they're going to stand behind me, and that's all that matters to me.”
According to NFL.com, Marshall is the third player to not stand during the anthem since Kaepernick started sitting during the anthem. Eric Reid of the 49ers didn’t stand for the anthem during the final preseason game and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench last week.
Fans reacted to Marshall kneeling during the anthem via Twitter.
Lost all respect for Brandon Marshall
— Austin Garcia (@AGthegreat15) September 9, 2016
@BOOMINCA @BMarshh54 Show respect where it's due. You respect those putting their life on the line for their country. It's pretty simple.
— Luke Newton (@Luke_Newton1) September 9, 2016
Ok Bronco country do we still love # 54 Brandon Marshall
— Mark Freeman (@Markfreeman7) September 9, 2016
@BMarshh54 thanks for taking a knee!!! 🙂
— Gladiator in Heels (@telaynea) September 9, 2016
@BMarshh54 you should be ashamed
— RUReadingthis♦♣♠♥ (@deemike1983) September 9, 2016
Solidarity! @BMarshh54 @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/OWdQclJj81
— MISSLisa2U (@MissLisaToU) September 9, 2016
Brandon Marshall just sat down for the jersey sales
— Kevin Hogan (@khoges34) September 9, 2016
@BMarshh54 Thank you...
— TheKhanofKhans (@Speed_Dmon) September 9, 2016
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@BMarshh54 you are a punk
— peterhayw (@peterhayw) September 9, 2016
#RESPECT Brandon Marshall
— ✈Cαρi Sρeαking™ (@CapiSpeaking) September 9, 2016
Not rooting for the Broncos until Brandon Marshall isn't a starter.
— Zach Hamm (@sHAMM_wow9) September 9, 2016
Some fans got confused and were incorrect as they directed their anger at the more famous Brandon Marshall of the New York Jets instead of Brandon Marshall of the Broncos.
@BMarshall thanks for making mental illness your priority and for supporting Kaepernick tonight. I am also a Kappa and UCF Alumni and Army.
— LeRoy Glenn Prentice (@LeRoyGPrentice) September 9, 2016
@PatriotByGod @BMarshall @Breaking911 Why give them any airtime or press? They'll stop as soon as no one cares about them.
— Melanie (@melaniesgore) September 9, 2016
@PatriotByGod @BMarshall @Breaking911 refuse to Watch any game that players won't stand for the flag.thats my right.
— Wire To Wire (@emptypockets57) September 9, 2016
Loving how idiots are fired up over the anthem protest but are too dumb to know the difference btw @BMarshall and @BMarshh54 #NFLKickoff
— Mike Braunstein (@LeBraun328) September 9, 2016
when @BMarshall gets on twitter and sees the people in his mentions who think he's @BMarshh54 pic.twitter.com/TQko7pO5eA
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) September 9, 2016
One fan pointed out the confusion that people were tweeting at the wrong Brandon Marshall.
When you're @BMarshall on Twitter but not THAT Brandon Marshall pic.twitter.com/bUt3DlyzFY
— Matt (@Q__Road) September 9, 2016
The Broncos won the game 21-20.
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