NFL’s Marshawn Lynch Gives Perfect “If You’re Not Racist” Response

Marshawn Lynch in action (photo by Mike Morris via Wikimedia Commons)

Retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch never said much to the media. The famously reticent Lynch did all his talking on the field, especially when he went into “Beast Mode” — the take-no-prisoner’s running style that defined Lynch’s career. Like many who don’t say much, Lynch tends to get a lot of attention when he does speak.

This week on Conan O’Brien’s show, Lynch used his matter-of-fact descriptive talents to describe just what he thinks about 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s National Anthem protest. Lynch thinks it’s a start, which is good, because you’ve “got to start somewhere… people have to open up their eyes and see what’s really going on.” As for the different reactions, with some people saying Kaepernick is dishonoring flag and country with his protest? Lynch makes his thoughts pretty clear on the “danger” aspect of it. “I mean, if you’re really not racist,” he told Conan, “you won’t see what he’s doing as a threat to America, just addressing the problem we have.” In other words, a man taking a knee during a song can’t do any harm, but the reasons he’s on his knee sure can — and do.