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Seahawks' Doug Baldwin: Some NFL Owners Have Told Players Not To Protest National Anthem

LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin claims some NFL owners have told their players not to protest the national anthem.

Baldwin made the revelation on HBO's "Any Given Wednesday."

Doug Baldwin on NFL Owners and Political Stances (HBO) by Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons on YouTube

"There are some owners out there that have taken a stand and told their players to do certain things, which I think is egregious," Baldwin said.

He continued, "There's been owners that have told their players to do specific things, or to not do specific things, I should say.

"Specifically, regarding the national anthem and, you know, the protests. The one quote I was informed of was, 'You're going to stand on the line with your hand on your heart and you're going to sing the national anthem because this is my stage.'"

The protest of the national anthem has come front-and-center after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started to sit and kneel during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The protest has spread across the NFL, and also to college and high school athletic events.

Last month, Baldwin told reporters that members of the Seahawks have had extensive conversations with Kaepernick.

"It's not just the NFL landscape. It's across the country right now," Baldwin said. "Obviously, we wouldn't be having this conversation if it wasn't for him bringing it to light. He stood on the table and shouted and got everybody's attention. And now we have to work on the follow through collectively."

While Kapenerick and other players have chosen to kneel or raise fists during the anthem, the Seahawks have stood with coaches and players interlocking arms before games. Seattle defensive back Jeremy Lane sat during the final preseason game in Oakland but has since stood with his teammates.

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