New Raider Marshawn Lynch Sits on His Ass During National Anthem

With the NFL being rid of the America hating, anti-cop militant Colin Kaepernick after his seasonlong practice of kneeling during the national anthem, the league may now be saddled with another problem child.

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch aka Beast Mode didn’t kneel for the national anthem during Saturday’s preseason opener.

He sat on his ASS.

The former Seattle Seahawk has long been notorious for his prickly personality and surly demeanor but being at the center of controversy is probably not what the Raiders had in mind when they lured him out of retirement.

But according to Lynch, he wasn’t trying to make a political statement ala Kaepernick, at least that is what he told head coach Jack Del Rio.

Lynch sits during national anthem in preseason opener https://t.co/8G1wc8nX3t pic.twitter.com/mEc358C1yd

— SFGATE (@SFGate) August 13, 2017

According to the San Francisco Chronicle via SF Gate “Marshawn Lynch sits during the national anthem in Raiders preseason opener”:

The Raiders weren’t going to take any chances, so coach Jack Del Rio only used two offensive starters in Saturday night’s preseason-opening 20-10 loss to the Cardinals. Not only did quarterback Derek Carr, receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree and running back Marshawn Lynch sit this one out, but Lynch sat on the bench during the national anthem.

Del Rio was surprised that Lynch sat during the anthem and talked to him afterward. (Lynch was long gone by the time the locker room doors opened).

“He said, ‘This is something I have done for 11 years. It’s not a form of anything other than me being myself,’” Del Rio said. “I told him I very strongly believe in standing for the national anthem. But I respect him as a man and he can do his thing.

“So, it’s a non-issue for me.”

Whether Lynch was being straight with Del Rio will be known soon enough. Even now there are probably hundreds if not thousands of inquisitive folks reviewing old Seahawks broadcasts to see whether he did indeed sit during the rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.

But whether or not Lynch had political intent is largely irrelevant to the Kaepernick defenders who will be screaming that a double standard now exists as the lobbying for their hero becomes more shrill with the season openers only three weeks away and the former 49er still jobless.