New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was asked at a press conference Saturday what he thinks about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to sit during the national anthem.
"I'm not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said about the choice. "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."
But Cruz said that certain political issues are "bigger than" Kaepernick.
Here are Cruz's full remarks:
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.
