Wednesday 18 October 2017 22:16, UK
Patrick Peterson has become the latest NFL player to say that the reason behind Colin Kaepernick's original anthem protest has been distorted.
Peterson is in London with the rest of the Arizona Cardinals as they step up their preparations for Sunday's International Series clash with the Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham.
The year's first International Series game, which featured the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens, saw one of the largest groups of players kneel for the Star-Spangled Banner.
That protest came a matter of days after US President Donald Trump said team owners should fire players who failed to stand for the anthem, a line he has continued to peddle with his most recent Twitter rant on Wednesday claiming the NFL was showing "total disrespect for our great country!"
Kaepernick's initial protest, taking a knee during the anthem last season, came as he looked to highlight racial inequality in America but Trump has always hinted it was a protest against the flag and the US military past and present.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Cardinals cornerback Peterson said: "I think the message was taken the wrong way.
"It's not about the anthem, it's not about the soldiers, it's about equality. We want to bring America together again and that's what some people are not understanding.
"It's not about disrespecting the flag. It's bigger than that now. I believe the message still didn't get heard but at the end of the day we have to do something to bring awareness and a bigger cause to it, because it is something that happens every day
"We want to be treated equally as the others so hopefully we come together and find something to bring a brighter light on this awareness.
"I just want people to understand this is not about disrespect, and it never was about disrespecting the flag, the military or soldiers who fought for this country - it was about inequality."
Peterson has not missed an NFL game in his seven-year career, and that is a record he is determined to continue despite having to leave the week six win over Tampa Bay with a quad injury.
"I'll definitely be ready to go for Sunday," Peterson told the Cardinals website.
"For the flight, it actually didn't get as stiff as I thought it would. But, we'll do some warming up (Wednesday), running around a little bit, see how it feels, and I'll probably be ready to go for sure for practice on Thursday."
