Two players kneel for anthem, Kaepernick tweets thanks

DENVER — No longer welcome on a National Football League sideline, Colin Kaepernick turned to social media to make his point on the league’s opening Sunday.

In a tweet, Kaepernick gave a shout-out to “my brothers,” Dolphins teammates Kenny Stills and Albert Watson, who were the only two players in the league to take a knee during the U.S. national anthem during Sunday’s early games.

“They have not backed down, even when attacked and intimidated,” Kaepernick said in the tweet, which was accompanied by a picture of the Dolphins kneeling before their game. “Love is at the root of our resistance.”

It was Kaepernick, then with the 49ers, who sparked the anthem controversy by kneeling during the pregame ritual in 2016 — his way of protesting policy brutality and social injustice in the United States.

Since opting out of his contract after that season, Kaepernick has been unable to land a contract on an NFL team and is suing the league for collusion. But his voice is still being heard. Last week,

Nike introduced an ad featuring the quarterback and his message: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”

While Stills and Watson were kneeling during the anthem, teammate Robert Quinn raised his fist. Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin did the same at San Francisco’s game at Minnesota. Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Telvin Smith Jr. of the Jaguars stayed in the locker-room while the anthem was played.

Hours before Kaepernick’s tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump took to twitter to dig at the NFL, linking low ratings for Thursday night’s opener between Atlanta and Philadelphia (lowest for an opener since 2008) to players who refuse to stand for the anthem.

“If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!” he tweeted.

NBC did show the anthem on Thursday night, and no players knelt or protested in other ways.

RON SCHWANE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor, right, scrambles against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams on Sunday in Cleveland. The teams tied 21-21.

WESLEY HITT GETTY IMAGES Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball for a touchdown as Marcus Williams of the Saints tries to tackle him Sunday in New Orleans. The Bucs won, 48-40.

WILFREDO LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Dolphins Kenny Stills, left, and Albert Wilson kneel during the playing of the U.S. national anthem before a game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla.

MADDIE MEYER GETTY IMAGES J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans attempts to tackle quarterback Tom Brady, right, of the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won, 27-20.