Photo credit: Jeffrey Beall

In case you missed this over the Memorial Day holiday, which, by the way, makes this even more inappropriate, Broncos’ linebacker Brandon Marshall had choice words for President Donald Trump after the President expressed support for the new NFL policy of fining teams if players do not stand for the national anthem. Those players who feel uncomfortable standing for the anthem should move to a developing nation, which makes America look like  paradise. Just kidding, didn’t mean to trigger you, Brandon, they can stay in the locker room.

Here’s what Marshall told ESPN.com about the new NFL policy, after calling Trump’s support disgusting:

“I say ‘disgusting’ because of our First Amendment rights. We have freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Because somebody decides to protest something, now [we] have to be kicked out of the country? That’s not how things should work, in my opinion. … Just because somebody disagrees with something, or if I didn’t stand for the anthem, or if I don’t like what’s going on, that’s basically him saying I should be kicked out the country.

“We’re supposed to have a conversation about things, talk about things, work things through. Everybody is not gonna agree on things. Everybody is not gonna have the same opinion on things. So just because somebody disagrees or has an issue with something that’s going on in this country, it doesn’t mean that they should pack up and leave. That’s absurd, in my opinion.”

Oh, Brandon. You are so, so confused. Nobody is suggesting that you have to leave the country if you disagree. What those who suggest you leave the country mean is that you should look at how awful conditions are in other countries before you say America sucks.

Additionally, you cite the First Amendment as if that applies here. Please note, the First Amendment only applies to the government persecuting your speech. It doesn’t apply to a corporation or your employer.

Which brings us to the next point. When you are on the field for the Broncos, you are at work. You are an employee. You are welcome to have your opinion outside of work, where it doesn’t disrupt your workplace or your teammates, as you have here in this ESPN article. When you are at work, you follow workplace policies. Or, maybe, find another job that will offer you a four-year, $32 million contract.

In the meantime, if you are unhappy with police brutality and racial inequality in the United States, do something about it. You participate in a lot of philanthropic endeavors, you are a community leader, you are rich. The world is your oyster. Make it happen. But make it happen on your own time.