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Archer afraid kneeling for anthem will ruffle teammates' feathers

Noah K. Murray / Reuters

Chris Archer fully supports the message Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell is delivering by kneeling in protest during the national anthem, but it doesn't appear the Tampa Bay Rays right-hander will do the same.

Archer, one of 62 African-American players on an Opening Day roster this season, said he isn't planning on following Maxwell's lead after taking "the temperature" of his teammates on the matter.

"From the feedback that I've gotten from my teammates, I don't think it would be the best thing to do for me, at this time," Archer said Sunday, according to Gabe Lacques of USA Today. "I agree with the message. I believe in equality.

"I don't want to offend anybody. No matter how you explain it or justify it, some people just can't get past the military element of it and it's not something I want to do, is ruffle my teammates' feathers on my personal views that have nothing to do with baseball."

Maxwell, 26, took a knee during the anthem on Saturday and Sunday as part of a protest that has been criticized by President Donald Trump.

He was the first major-league player to do so after receiving support from his teammates and front office, following in the footsteps of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who controversially protested when he was with the San Francisco 49ers and is now unemployed and unable to find work despite his ability.

Despite being uncomfortable with joining Maxwell in protest, Archer said the movement is a respectful way of making a difference, and Maxwell is the right person to do it.

"It did take a while in baseball, I think mainly because the other sports that do that are predominantly black," Archer explained. "Our sport isn't, so I think the criticism might be a little more harsh. It took somebody really special that had a unique background to take that leap.

"The way he went about it was totally, I think, as respectful as possible, just letting everybody know that this doesn't have anything to do with the military, first and foremost, noting that he has family members that are in the military. It's a little bit tougher for baseball players to make that leap, but I think he was the right person to do it."

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