Broncos' Brandon Marshall takes knee during national anthem
Linebacker was a college teammate of 49ers' QB Colin Kaepernick
Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a college teammate of Colin Kaepernick, took to a knee during the playing of the national anthem before Denver's season opener against Carolina.
Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem during San Francisco's preseason games , explaining it was to protest racial oppression and police brutality in the United States.
Marshall sounded a similar theme after Denver's 21-20 win.
"I'm not against the military, I'm not against America," he said. "I'm against social injustice."
Kaepernick's gesture opened a wide debate and put the microscope on a pregame tradition that has, for decades, been routine.
Marshall was standing with his hand over his heart during the anthem before a preseason game on Aug. 20.
He made no mention of his plans for Thursday's opener but shortly after the large American flag was unfurled, the fifth-year linebacker out of Nevada went to the end of a long row of Broncos and took a knee.
Broncos Super Bowl MVP Von Miller said he supported Kaepernick, too. "I'm not going to kneel for the national anthem but I feel it should be a change. His actions really brought the topic, brought it into the conversation. I'm with Colin all the way."
Police union encourages officers to work 49ers games
A police union says it is again encouraging its officers to work at San Francisco 49ers home games despite statements about police by quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But the union emphasizes that the task is optional for officers, and has been all along.
The Santa Clara Police Officer's Association sent a letter to Mayor Lisa Gillmor on Thursday, saying it will encourage its officers to work the games. The letter thanked Gillmor for issuing a statement pointing out that the games are not a requirement.
About 70 officers from the department work at each 49ers game and are paid as stadium security.
Last week the union sent a letter to the 49ers saying some of its officers may boycott the games because of statements by Kaepernick about what he calls police brutality and racial injustice that have come with the quarterback's refusal to stand for the national anthem.