NFL player loses another endorsement over anthem protest
The Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall has lost a second endorsement in less than a week over his decision to join his college teammate Colin Kaepernick in kneeling for the national anthem ahead of his team’s season-opener.
CenturyLink said on Monday that the broadband provider is “politely terminating” its agreement with Marshall due to his action last Thursday during the anthem.
The company’s move to cut its ties with the player came just over a month after announcing a sponsorship deal with the linebacker and two other professional football players, Stefon Diggs, a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, and Luke Wilson, a tight end with the Seattle Seahawks.
All three players had agreed to pitch CenturyLink’s interactive TV services in local television and radio commercials, as well as in online, print and social media promotions.
The Air Academy Federal Credit Union on Friday withdrew its endorsement of Marshall, with its president and CEO Glenn Strebe saying in a statement that its membership-based organization “has proudly served the military community” and that the player’s actions did not represent the credit union.
Marshall is not alone in joining protests inspired by Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback who opted to sit and take a knee during “The Star Spangled Banner” in preseason games to call attention to what he says is the oppression of blacks and other minorities.
Marshall and Kaepernick played together at the University of Nevada.