Friday 9 September 2016 09:21, UK
Denver Broncos star Brandon Marshall became the latest athlete to kneel during the US national anthem in a protest against social injustice before Thursday's NFL opener against the Carolina Panthers.
The linebacker, following in the path of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, crouched down on the sideline before the anthem began and remained in that position while his team-mates stood to his left.
"The message is I'm against social injustice," Marshall said. "I'm not against the military or police or America at all. I'm against social injustice and I feel like this was the right thing to do."
Marshall is the third NFL player to not stand during the national anthem since Kaepernick began his sideline protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
Kaepernick's team-mate Eric Reid joined in the protest during the 49ers' pre-season finale last week while Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench last week against the Oakland Raiders.
Carolina Panthers missed a field goal in the last seconds of the game to give Denver Broncos the 21-20 week 1 victory.
The NFL's opening week resumes on Sunday with 13 games and some players, including Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin and defensive end Cliff Avril, have said they are considering not standing during the national anthem.
Many Americans saw Kaepernick's gesture as a sign of disrespect to the flag and criticism was widespread, but he has been supported by several fellow athletes, including Megan Rapinoe, a soccer player who knelt before her game on Sunday.
"While we encourage members of our organisation to stand during the national anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision," the Broncos said in a statement.
Marshall, Denver's second-leading tackler during their run to a Super Bowl title last season and a team-mate of Kaepernick at the University of Nevada, said last week that he supported Kaepernick's actions.
"Brandon is a great kid. He is a leader of this team," Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said after the game. "I believe in our guys and I believe in them wholeheartedly. We move forward."
