Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he would be “very, very surprised” if one of his team’s players did not stand for the national anthem, like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“I would be very, very surprised if I had one of our players do that, particularly because of the respect that we have shown, not only this year, but since our time in St. Louis and my time going way back for the National Anthem,” Fisher told reporters Sunday at the team’s training camp at UC Irvine.
Fisher said if a Ram player had an issue “that he probably would come to me to discuss it before he reacted in such a fashion.”
Fisher emphasized he was not being critical of Kaepernick, who he said “has every right” not to stand for the National Anthem.
“We have an organizational philosophy that has been in place for a long time, with respect to the anthem,” Fisher said. “I think it’s a special event and it’s something that should be respected and that’s my opinion.”
When asked for his reaction to Kaepernick not standing for the national anthem before a preseason game Friday against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Fisher said, “I’m going to let his words speak for himself, it was his choice and I’m going to let the 49ers’ comments and their release speak for themselves.
“That’s a 49ers issue — I know it’s a societal issue, but I don’t feel like it’s my place to comment. I think our respect for the national anthem has been very, very well-documented and we’re going to continue to have respect for the national anthem.”
Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after Friday’s game “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. 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.”
The 49ers issued a statement saying “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the National Anthem.”
—City News Service