KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters met with the media on Friday ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Pro Bowl corner beginning his second NFL season answered a variety of questions, including a couple that centered on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sitting in protest during the National Anthem.
“It’s big. It’s real big what they’re doing. I salute Colin for what he’s doing. He’s standing up for a great cause,” he said.
Peters didn’t say he felt the need to demonstrate personally, but gave Kaepernick his full support.
“I’m 100 percent behind him. I feel that what was going on in law enforcement, it does need to change. It does need to change for all, equal opportunities for everybody, not just us as black Americans. I feel that over the past year it’s been displayed what’s been going on across America and over across the world. Just on my piece, I don’t think nothing’s being done about it.”
“It’s hard for us as we have influences on the world and all these fans around the world, once we come out like Colin did, it becomes a big huge thing like he’s disrespecting the flag. He didn’t say none of that. He spoke up about something that he felt he needed to speak up about. I salute him for that. I’m going to back him up.”
Peters also talked football, saying he was excited for the return of defensive backfield teammate Phillip Gaines after he lost all of 2015 to an ACL injury, and discussed the home-field advantage of Arrowhead Stadium and its fans.
“It’s going to be big. It’s going to help us. That’s the extra edge that we get with us having such a unique fan base out here at Arrowhead Stadium, all the love that we get and they put all the energy into coming on Sundays, cheering for us. It’s a plus for us always,” he said.
The Chiefs and Chargers kickoff Sunday at noon.