Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins addressed the question about whether or not he and his teammates will kneel for the national anthem this upcoming season.
“That’s something I’m sure I’ll figure out as we get closer to this season and something we’ll talk about as a team,” Wilkins said. “We’ll figure things out.”
Wilkins’ unarmed grandfather was wrongfully shot during a police raid of his home in 2011.
“It’s hard not to get emotional or have strong feelings to what’s happening right now, just because it hurts,” Wilkins said. “It hurts to see what’s happening to a lot of people who look like me.”
Since the death of George Floyd, whose death has sparked protests across the United States, the question of whether or not NFL players will kneel for the anthem again has become a topic of conversation.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick famously began kneeling for the anthem during the 2016 season.
“I can only speak for myself and I know there’s a lot of valid protests going on and there’s definitely some winds of change,” offensive lineman Ted Karras said. “I’m going to do my best to keep learning and listening and try to fit in wherever I can. But I’m with my teammates; and whatever we decide, I’m going to go with what we’re doing in unison. I want to be unified and do whatever I can to be an advocate for progress.”
The Dolphins and the rest of the NFL teams have a big decision in front of them as the 2020 season comes closer.
