Benjamin Watson, the tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, who identifies as Christian, is currently bedridden thanks to a torn Achilles tendon. Yet, he felt the need to weigh in on the controversy surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who for the past few weeks has refused to stand for the national anthem. Kaepernick insisted his decision to sit and kneel while the anthem played was to speak up for the victims of racial prejudice.
On his official Facebook page, Watson admitted racism still exists in the country, yet did not believe that means a professional athlete should disrespect the anthem. He then explained why he chooses to stand when he hears the "Star Spangled Banner" start to play.
When Watson was a New Orleans Saint, he was still offering unpopular, yet common sense opinions on heated issues. For instance, when Ferguson, MO was lit up in flames by angry protesters after the killing of African-American male Michael Brown, Watson said he was sympathetic to both the Brown family and the police officer involved and ridiculed the rioters for destroying property and ruining lives.
The underlying issue, he concluded, was not a skin problem, but a "sin problem."
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