New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz doesn’t see eye to eye with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick when it comes to the American flag and what it represents.
As most are likely aware, Kaepernick made headlines when he refused to stand with his teammates during the national anthem during Friday night’s game. Afterwards, he expressed his reason for sitting in protest, speaking with NFL.com’s Steve Wyche.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Cruz, who played in an NFL game Saturday night for the first time since 2014, has a different point of view.
“I think, personally, the flag is the flag,” Cruz said, per Bob Glauber of Newsday. “Regardless of how you feel about things that are going on in America today, and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things of that nature, you’ve got to respect the flag, and you’ve got to stand up with your teammates.”
Cruz elaborated a bit on his feelings towards Kaepernick.
“…it’s bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there, you’re with a team, and you go and you know you pledge your allegiance to the flag and sing the national anthem with your team and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are.
“Colin is his own man, he decided to sit down and that is his prerogative but on a personal standpoint. I think you have to stand up there with your team and understand and it’s this game, and what’s going on around this country is bigger than just you.”
It sure sounds like Cruz has been talking to Giants teammate Justin Pugh, who appeared to be outraged with Kaepernick for his protest (more on that here). But it’s nice to see that he’s not throwing rocks. Instead, he’s expressing his opinion in a respectful manner.
Both the NFL and Kaepernick’s team made it clear that Kaepernick has every right to sit during the anthem to express his feelings about how he perceives the American landscape.
Taking a strong stance against violence towards people of color is something many high-profile African-American athletes have done of late. They have stirred up a conversation that needs to be had in this nation right now.
But doing so in the manner Kaepernick chose was sure to stir up controversy, something he has embraced as a welcome cost for walking the road he has chosen.