Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest sparked mixed reaction in NFL group chat

Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem 10 years ago.

The moment led to emotional reactions on both sides and rarely with any space left in the middle. NFL players weren't exempt from that reality either, including in a group chat that involved Kaepernick, according to an NBC interview with the former quarterback.

"Reaction from players was also mixed," NBC's Rohan Nadkarni wrote. "While Reid, Kaepernick and five other players kneeled on Sept. 1, 2016, many who said they were sympathetic to Kaepernick’s cause disagreed with his decision not to stand for the anthem."

Kaepernick explains as much in his memoir, "The Perilous Fight," which is slated to release on Sept. 15.

The chat featured roughly 100 players from all 32 teams, according to NBC.

"Kaepernick writes of a text exchange in September 2016 in which then-Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman told him he shouldn’t tell players how to protest," the network said.

One former player told NBC that the tension in the chat was "palpable," as others suggested that Kaepernick only knelt for personal gain.

Following a season of drama, Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 after the Niners informed him of their intention to release him.

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/