Dein erstes Forum » touchdowns, but his season has been impacted by a

Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and Seattle Seahawks long snapper, penned an open letter to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Tuesday evening, defending his right to protest racial inequality in the United States by sitting during the national anthem.Later, in an interview with SportsCenter, Boyer said that after he listened to Kaepernicks reasoning for his protest, not only does he every right to do that, but I respect him. It was incredibly brave what he did.In the letter, which is posted at armytimes.com, Boyer says he initially felt anger toward Kaepernick but writes that hes come to a much greater understanding and appreciation of what Kaepernick is attempting to do.Im not judging you for standing up for what you believe in. Its your inalienable right. What you are doing takes a lot of courage, and Id be lying if I said I knew what it was like to walk around in your shoes. Ive never had to deal with prejudice because of the color of my skin, and for me to say I can relate to what youve gone through is as ignorant as someone whos never been in a combat zone telling me they understand what its like to go to war.Even though my initial reaction to your protest was one of anger, Im trying to listen to what youre saying and why youre doing it. When I told my mom about this article, she cautioned me that the last thing our country needed right now was more hate. As usual, shes right.Boyer expounded on his initial reaction in the SportsCenter interview, saying after his initial response of anger, I stopped myself, took a breath and I tried to listen and understand.There are so many different perspectives, and not just talking about from the African-American society, but from the veteran society and just from America in general. And thats what makes us great.Were all different, have different viewpoints. We come from different places. That initial anger -- Im not going to say hate; I didnt have hate -- but those knee-jerk reactions that are happening in our country right now ... its not helping anything. Its not solving any problems because its not a conversation, its just a yelling match.Boyer, who grew up in El Cerrito, California, just 16 miles from San Francisco, grew up a fan of the 49ers and writes that he used to dress as Joe Montana for Halloween. Also contained in the letter is a picture of a football Kaepernick signed and inscribed God bless our troops for a charity function Boyer held. The ball, he notes, went to the highest bidder, Boyers father.There are already plenty people fighting fire with fire, and its just not helping anyone or anything, Boyer wrote, finishing the letter with the Green Berets motto.So Im just going to keep listening, with an open mind. I look forward to the day youre inspired to once again stand during our national anthem. Ill be standing right there next to you. Keep on trying ... De Oppresso Liber.And Boyer wasnt the only current or former military member to offer support to Kaepernick. Late Tuesday night, the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick was the No. 1 trending topic in the United States.In the interview with SportsCenter, Boyer said there are a lot of people from the veterans community that are supporting his decision.Whether they agree with it or not, they are supporting his right. Thats kind of where I sit. Ive got his back. I hope that he is inspired to stand for the anthem again. That would mean the world to me.49ers coach Chip Kelly said Tuesday that Kaepernick will play in Thursdays preseason finale against the?San Diego Chargers, who will be holding their annual?salute to the military at that game. Adam Eaton Nationals Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Roenis Elias Nationals Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. https://www.cheapnationals.com/997r-frank-robinson-jersey-nationals.html . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Joe Ross Nationals Jersey . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Trea Turner Nationals Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Even though there arent any conference championships or big bowl games on the line, the winner of Saturdays Civil War does get something: They avoid the Pac-12 North basement.Oregon and Oregon State both have 2-6 records in conference play, but the stories surrounding those results are decidedly different.The Beavers (3-8) continue to show incremental improvement in the second year under coach Gary Andersen, despite getting hit by injuries -- most notably to starting quarterback Darell Garretson. The Ducks (4-7) are having an unexpectedly disappointing year marked by five-game midseason losing streak.But both teams were also boosted this week by victories last weekend. The Ducks upset then-No. 11 Utah 30-28 in Salt Lake City, thwarting the Utes shot at a spot in the Pac-12 championship game. The Beavers are coming off a 42-17 thumping of Arizona at Reser Stadium. Marcus McMaryion threw for 265 yards and five touchdowns.Big games are created sometimes by win-loss records or where you sit within the season. This games a big game every year regardless of the situation or the scenario, Andersen said. Our kids understand that, they know that, and that its an honor and a privilege for them to play in it. Theyll remember it for the rest of their lives.The game is the first sellout at Reser Stadium since the 2014 Civil War. Other things to consider when the Ducks visit the Beavers on Saturday:PLAYING FOR SETHOregon State wide receiver Seth Collins remains hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. Andersen has not been able to talk about Collins condition because of privacy rules. Collins fell ill following the Beavers game at UCLA on Nov. 12. Linebacker Manase Hungalu said Collins was in the teams thoughts following the victory over Arizona, and he will be in the Civil War, too.This whole team is built around family. One family member goes down, we gotta fight for him. That was our whole motivation for this game and it will continue until he gets better, Hungalu said.SO YOURE SAYING THERES A CHANCE?Should the Ducks win and get to fivee overall wins this season, there is a chance that theyll be invited to a bowl game because theres a possibility that there wont be enough six-win teams to fill all the games.dddddddddddd. Coach Mark Helfrich addressed the possibility earlier this week.I heard a couple guys talking about that and theres a lot of -- again, the biggest part of that is getting to five and the best way you do that is recover from this one he said. Weve already obviously gotten a great advance look on Oregon State whos playing really well right now and dominated Arizona and so again, the only thing that matters is how we prepare.FOCUS ON THE BACKSBoth teams have sturdy running backs who struggled at times with injuries this season. Oregon State running back Ryan Nall has rushed for 796 yards and nine touchdowns, but his season has been impacted by a foot injury. His Oregon counterpart, Royce Freeman, has had two straight games with 100 or more yards, and seems to have bounced back after dealing with an injury to his right leg earlier in the season. Freeman has 839 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.QUARTERBACKS, TOOBoth teams are playing quarterbacks that werent starters at the beginning of the season. Justin Herbert unseated graduate transfer Dakota Prukop at Oregon and has fared well for a true freshman, throwing for 1,756 yards and 18 touchdowns while making just six starts. McMaryion, a sophomore, was pressed into service when Garretson and backup Conor Blount were injured earlier this season. Hes thrown for 1,189 yards and nine touchdowns in the past six games.HISTORY LESSONThis is the 120th edition of the Civil War, which dates to 1894. Oregon holds a 63-46-10 advantage in the series, including the last eight straight. The Beavers last victory in the series was a 38-31 OT thriller at Autzen Stadium in 2007. Last season the Ducks won 52-42 at Autzen.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '