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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield made headlines on Saturday for his response to a fan on social media.
The fan asked Mayfield if he was going to kneel during the national anthem in protest, implying that he did not want the quarterback to do so. Mayfield responded by telling the fan that he would be.
The Browns starter was not done there. Mayfield then took to his Instagram story to double down on his decision to kneel, and to explain to everyone why he was doing so (via The Athletic's Lindsay Jones).
More from @bakermayfield on Instagram, who earlier today said, while responding to a comment, that he would kneel. Baker also worked out in a shirt that said “I Can’t Breathe”: pic.twitter.com/ElEu2WvnuP
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) June 13, 2020
Mayfield explains the reasoning behind the kneeling. He talks about how Colin Kaepernick (who started the protests) decided the manner of protests after speaking with military veteran and long snapper Nate Boyer. Together the determined that kneeling during the anthem was, as Mayfield himself wrote, the “most respectful way to support our military while also standing up for equality.”
With that in mind, the quarterback has decided to join his teammates and players across the NFL this season in kneeling during the national anthem.
The Browns quarterback admitted, also, that he feels he needs to get more educated on what we can only assume are social issues. He does not get into specifics as to what that could materially entail.
Mayfield also takes a moment to recognize that he might lose some fans due to the protest. However, that does not bother him. He notes that he has always spoken his mind. And it should surprise no one that he is not stopping now.
There are already many divided opinions about the quarterback. And this situation will only likely expand that divide. Either way, Mayfield is clearly doing something to make a difference and to experess what he believes in.
