Ex-Jet Brandon Marshall 'ashamed' he didn't kneel with Kaepernick
Former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall regrets not joining Colin Kaepernick in his protest against police brutality and racial injustice during the 2016 season.
Marshall, who was a member of the New York Jets at the time, spoke about his decision not to kneel during the national anthem on "I Am Athlete," explaining he worried about the possible repercussions that could arise.
"The first thing that came to my mind - and I'm just being honest - was, 'I got a mom that don't work. I got a sister with four kids that don't work and I've been taking care of for 10 years. If I take this knee, what will happen?'" Marshall said. "And I remember feeling so broken and so hurt that that was the first thing that hit my mind. 'Do I kneel for the entire community, or do I stand for my mom, my brother, and my sister?' And looking back on it, I am ashamed that I didn't take that knee."
Marshall went on to praise the recent video message NFL players released, which calls on the league to condemn racism.
"I am so excited now about with the video that just came out with the NFL players, because now I feel like they don't have to make that decision," Marshall said. "They don't have to think about that anymore. If they want to take a knee, you think Nike's going to drop them?"
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released his own video message Friday acknowledging the league was "wrong for not listening" to player protests.