With Thursday [August 17] ringing in Week 2 of the NFL preseason, fans of the Ravens, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Bills and Eagles got their weekly football fix. And with a couple of Colin Kaepernick supporters on at least one of those squads, those monitoring the prospects of a league-wide protest also got what they came to see, with Philadelphia stars Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long linking to take a stand. But for those who like the unexpected as much as they like their athletes to have a little bit of rebelliousness in them, the more notable protest might not have even happened on the field, thanks to media enigma Marshawn Lynch.
Prior to the Raiders' first preseason game last weekend, Lynch was spotted sitting during the National Anthem ceremony. So naturally, the unretired running back was confronted about not joining the team on the sidelines during a team presser on Thursday, August 17. And to those questions, Lynch responded by pointing out that he hadn't been accustomed to observing the anthem for the entire 11 years of his career. While most took him at his word, seeing what a renegade Beast Mode could be, many continue to hold on to their pressing protest questions.
One of the reporters in attendance raised his question with the use of an idiom that Lynch apparently took literally. "I think that elephant just left the room 'cause a little mouse ran in here," Lynch said, in response to the reporter's request that he address 'the elephant in the room.' "Didn't they say elephants are scared of mouses or something? That mother f**ker left, cousin," Lynch continued.
When he was again asked to elaborate on his choice to sit out the anthem, Lynch again tip-toed around the question. "When we run '74' or something like that where I've got to scan and read both sides, that'd be pretty difficult," Lynch said. "But for the most part, I'm a veteran so I can make it work," he replied.
