The 97th National Football League season kicked off Thursday night in standard fashion except for one oddity.
On the Denver Broncos’ sideline, linebacker Brandon Marshall took a knee during Andra Day’s rendition of the national anthem as all of his teammates stood for the song.
“While we encourage members of our organization to stand during the National Anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision,” Denver officials said in a statement afterward.
Across the field, all of the Carolina Panthers stood for the anthem.
Brandon Marshall taking a knee during the National Anthem. https://t.co/nGwUjF3vEK
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 9, 2016
The first game of the season — a rematch of last Super Bowl — could be an indication of what fans are in store for during the rest of the season. A few weeks ago, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick shocked viewers when he refused to stand for the national anthem. He defended his decision to sit, saying he would only stop protesting when all Americans had equal treatment under the law, but did not specify when that would be.
The Seattle Seahawks, set to compete Sunday, are considering an all-team kneeling during the anthem.
