Dixie Chicks all over again.  Sponsors are voting with their feet for the most part.  Gaining a sponsor might indicate the new sponsor likes Marshall’s political alignment.  Wonder what Goodell is thinking….

More folks telling me they are turning off the NFL….and I’m not even asking about it, they voluntarily share that with me.

AND: Bruce Arians, Cardinals (via ABC 15): “I respect his right as an American. Freedom of speech is one thing. … I disagree with [his decision]. I want to stand and cheer for all the people who’ve lost their life of every religion, race, gender defending that flag. It’s not my opinion, but I respect his right.”John Harbaugh, Ravens (via the Baltimore Sun): “I’m grateful for the right to express my displeasure. That’s what Colin chose to do, and it’s certainly his right to do it. … I respect him, respect his choice, whatever it is. … I tell our guys, if you’re going to say something publicly, think about it. Make sure you really believe that because when you speak out there, it’s out there, and it belongs to you now. The other part of it is, we’re a team, and anything we do, you respect our team, our organization and the other players, and you respect the mission that we’re on and what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Ron Rivera, Panthers (via the Charlotte Observer): “Our guys know they’re supposed to stand at attention at the line. Again, the national anthem is a very personal thing for me, obviously for specific reasons — my father and my mother’s family and their service to this country. And that’s why I stand. It is something that I think … it has to be personal for each person. Again that’s what this country is based on, freedoms. You have the right to do what you want to do because that’s what those men and women fought for and sacrificed for and we should be grateful that.”

Gary Kubiak, Broncos (via Troy Renck): “I want our guys to stand for the national anthem. But we don’t babysit guys.”

Jim Caldwell, Lions (via MLive): “The fact of the matter is what we won’t do is we won’t mandate an action for [a player who chooses to sit out the anthem]. We won’t tell him to stand up, or tell him to sit down, or whatever that might be. Because he hasn’t done anything that’s against the law. … I don’t necessarily agree with what he did, but the fact of the matter is he’s open to express himself. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion in this country — that’s the great thing about this country.”

The Saints’ Sean Payton opted to take a page from the Belichick playbook (via NOLA.com). “Honestly, we got a lot more important things we’re working on right here in our building,” he said.