Brandon Marshall: Kneeling during anthem will 'create dialogue'

— -- DENVER -- Broncos starting linebacker Brandon Marshall, a teammate of Colin Kaepernick's in college at Nevada, knelt during the national anthem before Thursday night's season-opening 21-20 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Marshall, who is active in community work, took a knee just before the national anthem and remained in that stance until the song was completed. The Broncos players were lined up, standing on the sideline, and Marshall was at the end of the line on the south end of Sports Authority Field at Mile High.?

No other players were seen sitting or kneeling during the national anthem.

"I'm not against the military, police or America. I'm against social injustice," Marshall said after the game, adding that he "felt it was the right thing to do" and that he will continue to kneel during the anthem this season.

Marshall, the team's second-leading tackler during its run to a Super Bowl title last season, has expressed support for Kaepernick, who initially opted to not stand during the anthem in the preseason because of what he believes is racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.

Marshall said he also believes taking a knee during the anthem is a way to "create dialogue."

"I think the more people do it, the more it's seen -- there's going to be hate mail, hate comments, but at the same time, people will talk about it," he said. "Some people are going to stand by me, some people aren't. But I know my loved ones, the people that love me and care about me, they're going to stand behind me, and that's all that matters to me.

"A lot of stuff that happened this summer, the police brutality, that sparked a conversation. We can talk all we want, but actions speak louder than words, so when [Kaepernick] took a knee, or sat down, he got people thinking. Then he was able to say everything he felt, everything he meant."

On Friday, Marshall was released from his endorsement deal with Air Academy Federal Credit Union.?

"Although we have enjoyed Brandon Marshall as our spokesperson over the past five months, Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) has ended our partnership," AAFCU president and CEO Glenn Strebe said in a Facebook statement. "AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years. While we respect Brandon's right of expression, his actions are not a representation of our organization and membership. We wish Brandon well on his future endeavors."

In a statement Thursday, the Broncos said, "While we encourage members of our organization to stand during the national anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision."

Earlier in the preseason, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said, "I want our guys to stand for the national anthem. ... My dad taught me two things that I believe in strongly. He told me to believe in my values and those types of things in life, and obviously I believe in our country and the national anthem very strongly. But at the same time, he taught me to respect other people's beliefs and values, so I do that.

"Our guys do a great job. But I don't babysit guys. I let them handle themselves. We tell our guys: 'Be yourself. Be your best self.'"

Marshall briefly left Thursday's game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion but was cleared to return. He finished with six tackles.