Safety Justin Simmons and running back Melvin Gordon were among 18 Denver Broncos players who knelt during the playing of the national anthem before “Monday Night Football” in Week 1.
Broncos players met last week with coach Vic Fangio and discussed their plans to protest racism and police brutality this season.
“We discussed all the different things that we could do as a group and individually,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said before practice last Thursday. “We came up with the conclusion that we would allow everyone to do what they feel comfortable doing because everyone has their own personal reasons for why they may stand or why they may kneel.”
Sutton emphasized last week that protesting players do not hate America or the military. They’re trying to use their platforms to draw attention to issues that need to be addressed.
“It’s not that you hate America,” Sutton said. “It’s not that you dislike the military or that you’re being disrespectful to them. You’re kneeling because of the police brutality and the unjust racism that’s going on in this country. We’re using our platform to continue to bring light to that situation.”
Sutton also said the players who stood for the anthem are not at odds with their kneeling teammates.
“The guys that stand, they’re not [for] social injustice, racism and the things that’s going on in this country … we know the guys that stand, they’re not against what the guys that are kneeling … it’s nice that everyone is going to be able to go out and show their support in whatever way they feel comfortable, whether it’s a kneel or a stand.”
