DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster doubled down on his stance Monday to take a knee during the national anthem. Foster said that will continue to be his pregame routine when the Dolphins take the field Sunday against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
"Yeah," Foster said of taking a knee again. "We still feel the same way."
Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, safety Michael Thomas and linebacker Jelani Jenkins joined Foster in taking a knee during the national anthem preceding Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Stills, who said he's still mulling over whether he will continue to kneel, added the group's decision sparked some quality conversation among the Dolphins. He said various players discussed the topic of racial oppression against minorities on the plane ride home from Seattle.
However, there has been plenty of public backlash toward Miami's four players over the past 24 hours. The decision to do it on the 15th anniversary of 9/11 only added to the emotion of the situation, although the players said their actions had nothing to do with 9/11.
"It stinks and it hurts, I guess, that people feel the way they do," Stills said. "But just understand that we're doing what we think is right. ... People close to me know who I am and understand who I am. They know that I'm trying to do the right thing."
Foster said the main purpose of their demonstration is to create a healthy dialogue on systemic racial issues such as education, the prison system and police brutality toward minorities. In turn, productive conversations could help lead to change.
"It's just so easy to hate," Foster said. "If you're proclaiming to be a true American, freedom runs in our bloodlines, right? It's supposed to. If somebody is telling you they don't feel like they're free, why wouldn't you listen to them?"