ARIZONA CARDINALS
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray plans to kneel during anthem this season
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said he will kneel during the National Anthem this season.
“I’ll be kneeling,” Murray told reporters in a Zoom call on Wednesday. “I stand for what’s right. That’s the bottom line. I call it like I see it. I’ll definitely be taking a knee.”
The comments come following weeks of protest and national conversation about racial injustice. The death of George Floyd, who was seen on video having his neck knelt on by a Minneapolis police officer, was a turning point in America putting its attention on matters of race, equality and police’s use of force.
“I feel like now more than ever people can just say what they want to say,” Murray said. “Before what we saw with his death, we had to beat around the bush and kind of straddle the line and say the politically correct thing.
“I stand for what’s right, I always have. What’s been happening is definitely wrong. As far as like kneeling and stuff like that, I’m with what’s right and I always will be.”
In the wake of Floyd’s death, the national conversation has revisited the actions of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who popularized kneeling during the National Anthem before NFL games as a way of speaking out against police brutality and racial injustice.
As of last week, the Cardinals had not yet discussed how or if the team will use the National Anthem to protest racial inequalities when the season starts. Kliff Kingsbury said owner Michael Bidwill and the coaching staff have reiterated to the players that they will be supported. The conversations about changes needed in the country will be ongoing within their walls.
Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries said Monday he will be listening to leaders like Larry Fitzgerald, Corey Peters and Patrick Peterson to come to a unified conclusion about how to speak out against racism.
