No matter what happens when the final cuts are made, Colin Kaepernick already had the best preseason of anyone in the NFL. Air Max Scontate .He sparked vehement outrage.He drew steadfast support.He got us talking.That is America -- and its athletes -- at their very best.Were not putting Kaepernick in the same league as Muhammad Ali, whose decision to not fight in Vietnam cost him more than three years in the prime of his career. Or mentioning the San Francisco 49ers quarterback in the same breath with Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who were sent home in disgrace from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics for giving a black power salute on the medal stand.But Kaepernick is certainly following in the footsteps of those giants, who bravely protested this countrys injustices even when they knew it would come at enormous personal cost.For the past week, weve debated -- in coffee shops, at work, on talk radio shows, around the dinner table -- the merits of Kaepernicks decision not to stand for the national anthem before games, his way of protesting the centuries-long short end of the stick that people of color have been getting in America, especially at the hands of the so-called justice system.Maybe you dont like his tactics, feel he is being disrespectful to what this country stands for -- or, at least, is supposed to stand for.Thats fine.This is America. Youre free to express your opinions.So is Kaepernick, who, it should be noted, wasnt up in anyones face or being disruptive -- not that theres anything wrong with those tactics, either.The biracial quarterback simply refused to stand for The Star-Spangled Banner, a gesture that actually went unnoticed for a couple of preseason games before someone finally realized what was up.Kaepernick, to his credit, didnt back down when called out. He explained his motives thoughtfully, saying he wanted to draw attention to the discrimination that undeniably still exists in this country and continues to hold back so many of our fellow citizens.We have a lot of people that are oppressed, he said after Thursdays final preseason game in San Diego. We have a lot of people that arent treated equally, that arent given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about, that need to be brought to life, and we need to fix those things.Hes no longer alone, either.In San Diego, Kaepernick took a knee along with teammate Eric Reid, who decided this was a cause worth following. So did Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane, who sat on the bench while the anthem was played before another preseason game in Oakland.Once we get to the regular season, look for more and more players to follow Kaepernicks lead -- even if hes only there in spirit.You see, Kaepernicks future with the 49ers was still up in the air Friday. The once-dynamic quarterback who led San Francisco to the 2013 Super Bowl lost his starting job a year ago, and theres no guarantee that hell get it back.Or even make the team, for that matter.New 49ers coach Chip Kelly has been vague on his intentions, saying only that Kaepernick will be judged like everyone else when the 53-man roster is set Saturday. Of course, its foolish to think Kelly wont at least consider how much of a distraction it would be to keep a quarterback who has made it clear that he intends to keep pressing ahead with his off-the-field grievances.That, in a way, makes Kaepernicks stance even more admirable. He decided to take on a much greater cause than football with his professional future in doubt, fully aware that it might affect his chances of staying with the team or, should he be cut, catching on with someone else.What makes an act truly patriotic and not just lip-service is when it involves personal risk or sacrifice, basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote this week in The Washington Post.Now, it should be noted that Kaepernicks $11.9 million salary for this year is fully guaranteed, whether or not he makes the 49ers.But his future earnings could surely take a hit.Kaepernicks choice not to stand during the national anthem could create a public backlash that might cost him millions in future endorsements and affect his value as a player on his team, reducing salary earnings or even jeopardizing his job, Abdul-Jabbar wrote. If team ticket sales seriously dipped as a result, he would pay for his stance.Invoking those giants of the 1960s, Abdul-Jabbar got to the heart of the matter.What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernicks choice to remain seated during the national anthem, he wrote, but that nearly 50 years after Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carloss raised fists caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities. Failure to fix this problem is whats really un-American here.Thats what Kaepernick has been saying all along.He loves America. He just wants to make it a better place.Lets hope Kaepernick gets another chance to take a knee.If he does, we should all stand with him.---Paul Newberry is a national writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Max 720 Scontate . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Air Max 90 Ingrosso . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. http://www.airmaxoutletscontate.it/max-97-scarpe-scontate.html . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. DETROIT -- Eric Ebron was on his back, looking as if he feared he was seriously injured.The Detroit Lions tight end pounded the turf with his right fist as the teams medical personnel evaluated his lower right leg.Ebron was later carted off the field, bowing his head and appearing distraught Saturday.He was hurt while blocking on a play on what the team called a mock game, which suddenly became too real for a team already faced with the reality of a passing game without Calvin Johnson for the first time in a decade.After Ebron was injured, the Lions shifted the practice that simulated game situations to the other end of the field.Injuries happen in football, Lions general manager Bob Quinn said.Ebron, drafted by Detroit No. 10 overall in 2014, seemed to be a favorite target of Matthew Stafford earlier in the practice that was open to the public at Ford Field.Stafford acknowledged being concerned about Ebrons injury.I have no idea whats wrong with him, he said.Ebron started 15 games over the first two years of his career, making 72 receptions for 785 yards and six touchdowns.Detroits depth at tight end was thin even before its best player at the position was injured.Brandon Pettigrew has not been cleared to practice while recovering from a torn knee ligament late last year and might not be healthy enough to start the season in five weeks. Tim Wright, another veteran, had a season-ending knee injury earlier this year.The top tight ends left standing might be Cole Wick, an undrafted rookie from the Univversity of the Incarnate Word in Texas, and journeyman Matthew Mulligan, who has 17 career catches since making his NFL debut in 2009. Air Max Italia. The other tight ends on Detroits roster are: Orson Charles, Adam Fuehne and Ben McCord.Mulligan said it was devastating, to see a teammate go down with an injury in practice.All of us are going to have to step up, Mulligan said. Ebron is an incredible player.The Lions may have to use more formations with three or four receivers and one of them will not be Johnson. He left the Lions and the league earlier this year after nine seasons.Detroits top receivers are Golden Tate and a pair of newcomers, Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin, along with TJ Jones, who was taken out of the mock game after hitting the turf hard on an overthrown pass.I just dove and someone landed on top of me, Jones said. Nothing. Im good. All good to go.Jones refused to say if he went through the concussion protocol.Ill leave that all to the trainers and coach (Jim) Caldwell to talk about the details of everything, but Im feeling great, Jones said.Caldwell spoke to reporters before the mock game, the only time he was scheduled to be available, and declined comment after the practice.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Larry Lage at http://www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Wholeslae Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap College Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap Baseball Jerseys ' ' '