Ex-49er Alex Boone rips Colin Kaepernick for 'shameful' act
Minnesota Vikings guard Alex Boone said it was "shameful" that former 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick did not stand for the national anthem before Friday's game, adding that he wanted him to "show some respect" for the flag.
Boone, who was Kaepernick's teammate for five seasons, disagreed with the way Kaepernick did not stand with his teammates during the anthem before the preseason game against the Green Bay Packers last week.
"I had a brother that served, and he lost friends," Boone said, according to ESPN. "I know how much it means to him. It's shameful."
Boone said he and Kaepernick "probably would have had a problem on the sideline" had they still been teammates and Kaepernick did not stand for the anthem.
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"You should have some f---ing respect for people who served, especially people that lost their life to protect our freedom," Boone said. "We're out here playing a game, making millions of dollars. People are losing their life, and you don't have the common courtesy to do that. That just drove me nuts.
"Anquan (Boldin) said it this morning [that Kaepernick had the right to do it], and I was kind of mad that he said it, because I was like, 'God, if Anquan says it, I've got to go with it,' because Anquan was such a leader, and he's a smart guy. He gets it. But at the same time, I was upset with his choice to do that and kind of disrespect the flag."
Kaepernick told the media on Sunday that he will continue to sit for the national anthem until “there’s significant change."
Although Kaepernick got attention for sitting before the Packers game, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick did the same before the team's second preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 20.
"We recognize his right to do that. So, it's not my right to tell him not to do something. That's his right as a citizen," Kelly said. "We recognize his right as an individual to choose to participate or not participate in the national anthem."
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