Another NFL Player Will Sit During National Anthem

It started when he spoke with ESPN, telling them he meant to sit down during the National Anthem of Thursday’s preseason game against the Jets.

Tavarres admitted to coming close to sitting out of the national anthem prior to the Eagles’ preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he said he will plan on doing so when the Eagles take on the New York Jets in the final preseason game of the year on Thursday night.

Tavarres told ESPN.com that he nearly sat on Saturday night against in Indianapolis before the Eagles’ preseason game against Colts. Instead, he stepped back and remained in the background, which was a change from him usually standing front and center.

“I appreciate everybody’s opinions, and I respect everybody’s opinions, but at the same time, I feel that [the national anthem] is important, and I feel that it’s obviously out of respect for the men and women of our country who sacrifice in order for us to coach and play this great game”, Pederson said. “We’ve got that right”.

According to the report, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz had players express their feelings about the topic during a meeting Monday and Tavarres was one of the players who spoke, along with team leader Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Leodis McKelvin. For now, I will stay focused on football; but I will definitely look for opportunities to do what I can to prevent injustices.

“I think he came back later and said it was not an insult to the military”, Matthews said.

He later modified his comments with a Twitter message: “I apologize for misspeaking my true sentiments”.

“I have already done some things”.

“Oh, I thought about it”. Heck, people around the league are fielding questions about Colin Kaepernick’s decision, including those who have no connection to Kaepernick or the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick, whose father was African American but was raised by a white couple after being adopted, said he refuses to stand and show pride for a country that oppresses black people and minorities.

Jenkins indicated there are Eagles players passionate about race issues beyond Tavarres, the undrafted free agent out of Incarnate Word, an FCS school in San Antonio, Texas. “We also respect an individual’s freedom of expression”.

This comes on the heals of Colin Kaepernick was observed not standing during the national anthem on Friday night. “I get it. I understand it”.

If he makes the Eagles’ regular-season roster, Tavarres will make $450,000 in base salary. “Really, what’s at stake is my pride and what kind of man would I be and what kind of African-American would I be if I didn’t stand my ground on this issue we have today”.

“In this situation, I’ve really got nothing to lose”, he said.