INDIANAPOLIS -- After he received a number of hateful messages on Twitter, Colts tight end Dwayne Allen released a nearly 90-second video Tuesday explaining why he has consistently taken a knee toward the end of the national anthem throughout his career.
Allen said he felt it was necessary to speak up following what he called some "misreported" information during the NBC television broadcast at the end of the national anthem prior to the Colts' game against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
"For every game of my career, I have taken a knee toward the end of our anthem," Allen said in the video on Colts.com, "to say a prayer for every man that steps on the field. Because of recent events, I explain to you why I'm kneeling on the field. After reviewing some of the comments over the social media platforms, I realize sometimes a few will spoil the bunch. It was a vast majority that was expressing words of hate. Not love. Not devotion. And not pride for our great nation. What I want most is for this world to be a better place for everyone who lives in it, for this country to be a better America for everyone that lives in it."
Allen, who is out with an ankle injury, said he will continue to kneel and pray toward the end of the national anthem.
Taking a knee during the national anthem became an important topic when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started doing it during the preseason to protest police brutality and racial oppression.
Former Colts cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was released two weeks ago, is the only Indianapolis player who kneeled -- and held a fist toward the sky -- during the anthem to protest.
Colts owner Jim Irsay told USA Today Sports that NFL players are choosing the "wrong venue" to express their views.
"It hasn't been a positive thing. What we all have to be aware of as players, owners, PR people, equipment managers, is when the lights go on we are entertainment. We are being paid to put on a show. There are other places to express yourself," he said.