Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans sat during the playing of the national anthem before last Sunday’s game and explained it was in protest of the outcome of last week’s presidential election.
Evans’ action was criticized in many corners before and after it emerged that he may not have voted in the election and Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said he was “disappointed” while respecting Evans’ right to sit during the playing of the anthem when asked about it yesterday. Whether because of that response or other reasons, Evans released a statement on Tuesday saying that he would find other ways to communicate his opinions in the future.
“I want to start by apologizing to all the U.S. military members, their families, and the fans who I offended by my actions on Sunday. It was never my intention as I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve our country. I have very strong emotions regarding some of the many issues that exist in our society today. I chose to sit as an expression of my frustration towards this year’s election. It was very personal for me, as it was for so many Americans. With that being said, I will not sit again during the National Anthem because I want to focus my efforts on finding more effective ways to communicate my message and bring about change by supporting organizations and movements that fight for equal rights for minorities. This Sunday, I will be back to standing with my teammates.”
The Buccaneers released a statement Sunday saying that they “encourage all members of our organization to respectfully honor our flag during the playing of the national anthem” and also recognize the right to free speech “which is crucial to the American principles we cherish.”