While it was widely reported that most of the players around the league agreed with Colin Kaepernick’s posture on not standing for the National Anthem and American flag, one Giants star was in total disagreement.
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz made it known to USA Today and reporters that he disagreed with Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem.
Cruz:
“I think, personally, the flag is the flag. Regardless of how you feel about the things that are going on in America today and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things like that. You’ve got to respect the flag and stand up with your teammates. It’s bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there. You’re with your team, and you pledge your allegiance to the flag and the national anthem as a team, and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are. Colin is his own man. He decided to sit down and sit out and that’s his prerogative. But from a personal standpoint, I think you have to stand out there with your team and understand that this is a game and understand that what’s going on in the country.”
The main thing we have to remember is that Cruz’s statement and opinion are his right “as an American” and should be respected just like Kaepernick’s.
I don’t agree with Cruz’s statement that “the flag is the flag” — insinuating that we as black men in this country should literally just “stand’ for anything.