Dolphins' Arian Foster on kneeling during anthem: This is what U.S. is about

After he and three Miami Dolphins teammates kneeled during the national anthem on Sunday, running back Arian Foster explained he felt compelled to join San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in speaking out against police brutality and racial inequalities.

Foster was joined by Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills, safety Michael Thomas and linebacker Jelani Jenkins in kneeling for The Star-Spangled Banner prior to a 12-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Facing criticism was not a deterrent for the veteran Foster, who joined the Dolphins in July after a seven-year career with the Houston Texans.

"They say it's not the time to do this," Foster said. "When is the time? It's never the time in somebody else's eye, because they'll always feel like it's good enough. And some people don't. That's the beautiful thing about this country. If somebody feels it's not good enough, they have that right. That's all we're doing, exercising that right."

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The four Dolphins players appeared to be the only players not standing for the anthem on Sunday. Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall kneeled in the season opener Thursday. Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and 49ers safety Eric Reid followed Kaepernick's lead in their teams' preseason finales.

Foster said he believed taking a knee was not a form of disrespect.

"It's not about the symbology that people are mad about. It's the message and the people who are saying it," Foster said. "Because if it's a knee that people are upset about, every Sunday people of faith take a knee to give thanks to their Lord and savior, whatever religion they are."

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Dolphins owner Stephen Ross spoke with the players prior to Sunday's display and said he supported their decision.

"I don't think it was any lack of respect. I think everybody here — our team and our whole organization — respects the flag and what it stands for, and the soldiers and everything. But these guys are making a conversation of something that's a very important topic in this country, and I'm 100% supportive of them."

Foster said reflection was required before the decision but that he felt compelled to join the protest.

"It never dawned on to me to make a statement like that," Foster said. "That's why I feel like what Colin did — I agree with him and I understand 100% what he's doing. Rather than sparring with anybody publicly about which way was the right way and which way was the wrong way, I took my ego out of it and said 'This conversation has started once again.' I feel like I had a responsibility to keep it going, because it's healthy conversation.

"This is exactly what this country is about. We have people in other countries that if they speak out, they get beheaded. They get killed. They get tortured. That's not what this is about. If somebody disagrees with it, they can disagree with it. But respect that right to protest."

Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.

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