In an Instagram message posted Wednesday morning, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall further explained his decision to kneel for the national anthem last Thursday and reaffirmed his commitment to try to effect change in the local community.
Marshall, who has spoken of the “end game” with his protests, pledged $300 for every tackle he makes this season to Denver organizations and programs to address “critical social issues.”
“I plan to be involved with several other organizations that benefit the Denver community and others through the services, awareness and funds they provide for these critical social issues,” he wrote, alongside a photo of him with Denver police chief Robert White. “And I will donate 300 dollars for every tackle I make this season to those programs. You can track these contributions on social media through #TackleChange.”
Last season, Marshall finished second on the team with 101 total defensive tackles, plus another special-teams tackle. A repeat this season would result in $30,600 in donations.
While Marshall is still formulating the list of organizations and programs he wants to help, having a list and of initiating a meeting with White has given him a framework for his “end game.”
“That’s part of the end game, but that’s only one part of it,” he said. I’m going to continue to think of different things and continue to come up with different solutions.”
Marshall met with White for nearly an hour Tuesday at Denver police headquarters to learn more about policing, locally and nationally. White, in response to Marshall’s list of questions, provided him with three reports on policing and said he will supply him with another list of ways in which he can work with the department. Among the suggestions will be joining an officer on a ride-along, and testing out the department’s simulator to gain a better sense of what officers face in shoot and don’t-shoot scenarios.
“I took a lot,” Marshall said of the meeting. “A better understanding of what they go through and the different trials and tests that it (takes) to be a police officer. And he kind of got my side of it, as well, so I think it was a good meeting.
“I’ll definitely go in the simulator. I’ll probably do a ride-along, as well, but I’m going to take my teammates with me and we’re going to do the simulator.”
Last Thursday, before the Broncos’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers in Denver, Marshall became the latest among a string of players to sit or kneel for the anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice in the country. The movement, started by San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has come with consequences for the athletes, especially Marshall, who has faced pushback on social media and has lost two endorsement deals.
Although Marshall lost Air Academy Federal Credit Union and CenturyLink as sponsors, he said he is in talks for an endorsement deal with RushCard, a prepaid Visa card founded by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons in 2003.
Marshall has said he plans to kneel again for the national anthem Sunday when the Broncos are host to the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field.
“I don’t have a timeline. Whenever I stand up, I’ll stand up and I think it’ll be a good thing,” Marshall said. “I’ll think it’ll make an impact. I’m trying to do things in the community, as well. Kneeling was really just to bring attention to the issue. An awareness factor. A symbol, so to speak. Just like the flag is a symbol. That’s really not what everything’s about. It’s not about kneeling. It’s about other things. It’s about doing donations, I’m going to do some other things to back up the kneeling.”
