UPDATED 8/29/16 5:24 p.m.:
Welp, Tavarres has had a change of heart. After speaking with his agent, Corey Williams, the Eagles rookie linebacker will stand for the national anthem.
See original story below.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Myke Tavarres has decided to follow Colin Kaepernick's lead and sit during the national anthem before games. Kaepernick made waves on Friday when he sat out the playing of the national anthem before the San Francisco 49ers' preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. "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, explaining his decision. "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."
As Kaepernick expected, his decision has led to plenty of backlash from his fellow players in the league to analysts to everyone in between. However, Kaep's willingness to take a stand seems to have inspired Tavarres to follow through on something he has thought about doing for quite some time. "Oh, I thought about it. Believe me, I definitely thought about it," Tavarres toldESPN. "And usually I'm front and center on the line with the rest of the guys, and that's since pre-K all the way up. Saturday's game, I stepped back, I was in the background, and it didn't feel right to me at all, and so I will be taking a stand -- or sitting down -- for the fourth game."
According to ESPN, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz discussed Kaepernick's actions during a group meeting where a number of players, including Tavarres, Malcolm Jenkins, and Leodis McKelvin, openly expressed their opinions on the matter. While it is believed that some people in Philly's organization know of the rookie linebacker's decision, he hasn't spoken to his coaches about it. "In this situation, I've really got nothing to lose," he said. "Really what's at stake is my pride and what kind of man would I be and what kind of African-American would I be if I didn't stand my ground on this issue we have today?"
Tavarres is expected to sit out the national anthem prior to the Eagles' final preseason game against the New York Jets on Thursday.
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