Brandon Marshall didn't give his parents, teammates, or employers prior notice that he would take a knee during the national anthem Thursday.
The Denver Broncos linebacker also did not consult with his college teammate, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the first NFL player to publicly protest police brutality and the oppression of African-Americans and other people of color in the United States by sitting during the anthem.
In fact, Marshall said his decision stems from an incident outside of a Miami restaurant this summer that ended with him being surrounded by police and confronted with a Taser.
Marshall recounted the story to Robert Klemko of the MMQB after Thursday's game. Marshall told Klemko he was eating with friends when shots were fired outside the restaurant. Police arrived soon after and told customers to vacate the premises.
"I start walking to the exit I know and there's a lady in street clothes telling me to go a certain way, but I went my way. She starts yelling, 'Stop him!' I'm walking and the police come, and I turn around and about five of them rush me," Marshall said. "They grab me and they're trying to wrestle me and take me to the ground. I'm standing my ground because I didn't do anything; not fighting, but not laying down.
"A cop pulls his Taser out, they push me up against the wall and they handcuff me and they were going to take me in for resisting arrest but they eventually let me go. So they're looking for a suspect, and some lady yells at me, and that's enough to tackle me?"
Marshall listed other instances in which he believes he was the victim of racial profiling, and said he'd been warned about it by his mother, who'd shared her similar experiences.
"I prayed long and hard about it and I felt it was the right thing to do," Marshall said of taking a knee. "It is what it is; I'm standing up for what I believe in. I know my family will support me."
The 26-year-old was among the team leaders in tackles Thursday night, finishing the game with six. However, he had to leave the game in the first half as he was evaluated for a concussion. During that time, he began receiving hateful comments on his phone through various social-media channels.
"So many people have trouble understanding and empathizing," Marshall told Klemko. "I saw somebody say, 'Go back to where you're from.' I'm from Vegas.
"It's hate and it's exactly what we talk about. People celebrating a possible concussion are proving my point."
