Brandon Marshall adds sponsor after being dropped by two companies following protest
Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall has added an endorsement deal with pre-paid Visa card RushCard after being dropped by two sponsors for kneeling during the national anthem, according to ProFootballTalk.
The decision to kneel was a a sign of solidarity with 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who chose not to stand for the national anthem before preseason games to protest police violence and what he sees as racial inequality in America. Kapernick continues to protest and has been joined by several NFL players throughout the league in Week 1. Kaepernick has not lost any sponsorships.
Marshall was dropped by CenturyLink and Air Academy Credit Union after protesting before the Broncos opened the season against the Carolina Panthers.
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The new deal with RushCard comes after a conversation with entertainment entrepreneur Russell Simmons.
“I spoke with Russell Simmons,” Marshall said. “They’re endorsing me, The Rush Card and he said he was going to speak with me today. I spoke with him the last two days. He’s going to talk to me today about the parameters of the deal, what it comes with. I lost two, but I gain one.”
Marshall also told reporters that he does not intend to kneel forever and will stand at a time that he believes is appropriate.
