Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall said he expected pushback. He knew not everyone would agree with his decision to kneel for the national anthem before the Broncos’ season opener against Carolina on Thursday evening.

He expected some to perceive his protest, designed to highlight issues such as racial inequality and police brutality, in a negative light.

Friday morning, his expectation became reality when Air Academy Federal Credit Union released him from his endorsement deal. Marshall became AAFCU’s official spokesperson in May.

“Although we have enjoyed Brandon Marshall as our spokesperson over the past five months, Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) has ended our partnership,” Glenn Strebe, the AAFCU’s president and CEO wrote in a Facebook statement. “AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years. While we respect Brandon’s right of expression, his actions are not a representation of our organization and membership. We wish Brandon well on his future endeavors.”

Marshall said Thursday that he made the calculated decision to kneel during the anthem after discussing it with family and friends, as well as Broncos tight end Virgil Green. He said his actions were not out of disrespect for the military or law enforcement, but an opportunity to take a stand for what he believed.

“Absolutely they were worth the consequences,” Marshall said Friday. “I lost an endorsement, but that’s OK. I figured some sort of repercussion would happen. It’s what I thought about, and I still made the decision to do it. I can live with it.” Related Articles September 9, 2016 Brandon Marshall’s kneeling during national anthem was disrespectful (2 letters)

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Green and Marshall were teammates of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started the movement during the preseason in an effort to raise awareness and effect change. Kaepernick vowed to donate $1 million of his salary and proceeds from jersey sales to charities that focus on racial inequity.

Marshall had said he would follow suit and donate to charities, including Wounded Warriors. But the long-term plan still is being developed, in coordination with the Broncos and Kaepernick.

“Truth be to told, I’m not sure how long I’m going to do it,” Marshall said of kneeling during the anthem. “I would be lying if I said I did. Which is what took me so long to do it in the first place, because I was wondering what’s the end game? How long is it going to take for change? What’s the end game for me to be able to get out, do what I need to do and feel good about the change that maybe I effected?

“Once I come up with a good plan, like I said, I’m going to donate. I’m going to do some things in the community. I’ll figure it out.”

Marshall said he’s hopeful other players will join and him Kaepernick in the protest, but, above all, wants players simply stand for what they believe. Doing so for Marshall has led to support but also a flood of negative, hate-filled messages, in addition to the lost endorsement deal.

“I definitely got more negative (feedback). It’s tough because I don’t read all the comments,” he said. “I had so many comments on Twitter and Instagram, (and) I couldn’t go through all of them. I had a lot of positive text messages, but as far as social media, I had a lot of negative, racist comments,” he said. “People calling me the N-word and a lot of people calling me all kinds of derogatory terms. It is what it is. There’s a lot of hate out there. I’m not here to spread hate or negativity. I’m here to spread positivity.”

Marshall has found support with the Broncos’ locker room and coaching staff, however. Coach Gary Kubiak said during the preseason that he encourages his players to stand for the anthem but respects their decisions and will not “babysit” them.

Kubiak, without offering his opinion on the Marshall’s decision to take a knee, backed his player Thursday and reiterated his support for Marshall on Friday.

“Me and (Brandon) talked today. We had a really good talk this morning,” Kubiak said. “Like I told you guys last night, he’s a great kid. He’s accountable, he always does his job — he did his job last night — and Brandon has the rights to his beliefs. … He’s always done his job.”

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