Kyler Murray: 'I'll definitely be taking a knee'

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is ready to protest once the NFL 2020 season arrives.

"I'll be kneeling. I stand for what's right," Murray told reporters Wednesday, according to Kevin Zimmerman of 98.7 Arizona Sports. "That's the bottom line. I call it like I see it. I'll definitely be taking a knee."

Murray also highlighted the importance of peaceful protests and proactive approaches to combating racism.

"I don't condone the rioting," he said, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "But the peaceful protests, they're amazing. That's the start of it ... It's not enough to just not be racist. You have to be anti-racist and hold everyone accountable."

He added: "If you have any racist friends, it's on you to stop that immediately."

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said earlier in June that the team's coaching staff has yet to discuss the possibility of pregame protests with players but will support the athletes in whatever actions they take.

Other NFL players have recently defended protests during the U.S. national anthem, including Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, and Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien plans to join his players in pre-game protests.

"I feel like now more than ever people can just say whatever they want to say," Murray said. "Before (George Floyd's) death we had to beat around the bush and straddle the line and be politically correct."

Colin Kaepernick was the first NFL player to protest by kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 season, but the quarterback hasn't played in the league since the conclusion of that campaign. The killing of Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice.

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