49er QB Colin Kaepernick Refuses To Stand During National Anthem, Romo Out Indefinitely
FOOTBALL
The big news in pre-season football over the weekend was not about how any of the players performed on the field but about a player’s patriotism. The San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the National Anthem Friday in a pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers. Kaep, who is biracial, claimed he was protesting police brutality and how the US treats black people. He said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He went on to say, “When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.” While the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers confirmed it’s not required for athletes to stand, many, many, athletes and individuals took to social media criticizing Kaepernick for his unpatriotic actions. As just one example, Justin Pugh (the New York Giants’ lineman) stated Kaep’s actions were “disrespectful to all the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country”.
In more pre-season news, the Dallas Cowboys season may be in jeopardy unless they can come up with a suitable replacement for injured QB Tony Romo. Romo is out indefinitely with a broken bone in his back. Backup Dak Prescott was a 4th round pick but has performed well in the pre-season so it will be interesting to see how he fares in September with the pressure of games that truly matter.
