When the national anthem played before the start of the exhibition game with the Green Bay Packers on Friday night, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand.
Kaepernick explained he had decided to remain seated as a statement against racial oppression.
"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 told NFL Media in an interview published Saturday. "To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way."
On his Twitter feed, Kaepernick curates a timeline of events that have found a place in the national discourse about race, politics and police behavior, including a protest by white supremacists in front of an NAACP headquarters in Houston, an article about how Arizona teenagers were forced by their school to change out of their Black Lives Matter shirts, and the fatal police shooting of an armed black man in Milwaukee.
"There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder," he said.
Kaepernick, who is biracial and was adopted by white parents, said he had discussed his feelings with his family, and he decided to be more active, after witnessing months of civil unrest, according to the NFL Media report.
He said he had not informed the team of his intentions.
"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed."
He continued: "If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."
Unhappy Dogg
Snoop Dogg is not happy with the NFL and its rules prohibiting players from smoking weed, and he wants changes to be made.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was spotted at a popular marijuana shop in Seattle before Thursday's exhibition game and is getting significant flak for it. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it gave a bad look.
"It's not a good look, but Snoop Dogg thinks the NFL is overreacting to marijuana in comparison to alcohol," wrote Patrick Schmidt of fansided.com.
"The NFL is stupid for trippin' over .... weed," Snoop Dogg said.
"He's probably right, and it's an opinion that is picking up some traction as states begin to legalize the drug that is becoming more socially acceptable," Schmidt wrote. "Sure, it's still against the NFL rules, but Snoop makes a very valid point.
"Snoops says he's never heard of a person who smoked weed getting into any kind of trouble. Certainly not compared to the number of alcohol-related incidents that have given the NFL a black eye in recent years.
"He says people who smoke weed only want to get something to eat and go to bed. If anyone would know the behavior of someone who smokes weed, it would certainly be Snoop.
"Having said that, the NFL isn't about to change their substance abuse policy and deregulate marijuana like a few states have done in recent years. So, if Elliott or any other player who wants to play in the NFL wants to smoke some blunts and rip a few bong hits, you may want to think of a different career path."
Sports quiz
What Major League Baseball team drafted Colin Kaepernick in 2009?
Sports answer
Kaepernick, a pitcher, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 43rd round.
Sports on 08/28/2016