Denver Broncos

Broncos' Brandon Marshall kneels for national anthem: Twitter reacts

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

To start the first game of the NFL regular season, Broncos player Brandon Marshall kneeled for the national anthem, which fans reacted to plenty.

The controversy that hasn’t just surrounded football, but all of sports is the protesting of the national anthem. This always opens professional sporting events, and has for years. However, national attention got directed toward San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for starting this. Athletes have since followed suit, most notably NFL players.

On Thursday, the NFL regular season kicked off. Before the ball even moved, though, attention got directed toward Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall. Cameras showed him kneeling while the national anthem got played throughout the stadium.

The topic of athletes protesting the national anthem has drawn debate from the media, players, and fans over what the correct call is on this. Should players be allowed to do this? Or should they not? That has been all over Twitter, and became the case on Thursday night with Marshall’s protest.

@BOOMINCA @BMarshh54 Show respect where it's due. You respect those putting their life on the line for their country. It's pretty simple.

— Luke Newton (@Luke_Newton1) September 9, 2016

@richeisen Brandon Marshall did it justice

— Jay Diva (@dogtv19) September 9, 2016

@BMarshh54 thanks for taking a knee!!! ????

— Gladiator in Heels (@telaynea) September 9, 2016

@BMarshh54 you should be ashamed

— RUReadingthis♦♣♠♥ (@deemike1983) September 9, 2016

Solidarity! @BMarshh54 @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/OWdQclJj81

— MISSLisa2U (@MissLisaToU) September 9, 2016

@BMarshh54 Thank you…

— TheKhanofKhans (@Speed_Dmon) September 9, 2016

@BMarshh54 you are a punk

— peterhayw (@peterhayw) September 9, 2016

@Majorities_ I hope Brandon Marshall tears his acl and Achilles at the same time

— TRUMP 2016 (@DJTmaga) September 9, 2016

#RESPECT Brandon Marshall

— ✈Cαρi Sρeαking™ (@CapiSpeaking) September 9, 2016

Look at those bashing #BrandonMarshall and tell me what most of them have in common

— Gerardo (@King_Gerry_R) September 9, 2016

We live in a sad world. @BMarshh54 mentions are so sad and pathetic. People are horrible

— Victoria Ivory (@Miss_V_Ivory) September 9, 2016

@BMarshh54 u proved nothing tonight by ur actions . Nothing

— alan canby (@bigac9mm) September 9, 2016

The reaction to the situation is mixed. It’s polarizing, though, as it’s a topic that’s not just about sports, but what’s going on in the United States. People are taking a stand for whichever reason they believe in, and starting to go public more than ever. Athletes may be setting the example here for other players and those outside of sports, which its effect is debatable.

With only one game being played on Thursday, we may see this topic brought up on Sunday when most of the league is in action for Week 1 of the NFL regular season. There could be additional players following Brandon Marshall’s move on September 8. Who that could be remains to be seen, leading to having this conversation all over again on the 11th.