Former Seahawk Nate Boyer: I applaud Colin Kaepernick’s courage

He may not agree with Colin Kaepernick’s decision, but Nate Boyer told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that he admires the 49ers QB’s choice to a stand – or sit.

Boyer, the former Army Green Beret who had a tryout last offseason as a long-snapper with the Seahawks, spoke to Dori after an open letter he wrote to Kaepernick was published in the Military Times. Kaepernick has caused a stir around the country for refusing to stand for the national anthem.

Donald Trump on Colin Kaepernick: He should find another country

Boyer told Dori that the newspaper reached out to him to write the piece and that it was his idea to reach out to Kaepernick directly in the open-letter format. Boyer acknowledged that his gut reaction was to be upset.

“I was upset because, not only did that come off as disrespectful to me, I’m also a fan of his and I pull for him. And I hate to see the guys I pull for disappoint me,” Boyer said. “But it was a gut reaction, it was an initial, knee-jerk reaction. I didn’t take time to just relax and try and understand and think about why. I initially just thought it was a publicity thing and … I don’t know if it is — I don’t know. But I do know that race is still an issue in our country, and it shouldn’t be.”

Boyer said he fought for the rights of people like Kaepernick to have the freedom to sit, and that he respects and supports his decision and the conversation it’s spawned.

“I applaud his actions because it took a lot of courage and I respect his decision,” he added. “I might not necessarily agree with it, but I don’t know where he’s coming from, cuz I’m not him.”

Listen to the full conversation below

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest