Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule considering kneeling during national anthem

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers mentor Matt Rhule stated he’s thinking of kneeling together with his gamers through the national anthem this season in assist of the movement towards racial injustice.

“I would think about anything as we go forward,” Rhule stated Thursday on a video clip conference call. “I am supportive of the bring about. I am supportive of the movement. I am supportive of social justice. I consider for every human being, mentor or player that will be a very particular choice. I consider it has to be built at the correct time and the correct purpose for everybody.”

The initial-12 months mentor hired from Baylor beforehand has advised his gamers that he will assist them for expressing their views about social injustice.

“I will assist my gamers with no matter what they do, and then when the time comes, I will seriously consider deeply about what is the finest factor for me and what is the finest way I can show my assist,” Rhule stated.

In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling through the national anthem to protest racial injustice. His teammate Eric Reid kneeled together with him and afterwards played for the Panthers. Both equally gamers achieved settlements with the NFL soon after filing grievances alleging owners colluded to continue to keep them out of the league.

Houston Texans mentor Invoice O’Brien beforehand has stated he will choose a knee together with his gamers through the national anthem.

Rhule — who, like O’Brien, is white — stated he will confer with his gamers in advance of earning any choice about regardless of whether to kneel.

“I consider a lot of this has arrive from the gamers, so I will hold out to see what way they are leaning and then I will make my choice,” Rhule stated.