It was a tough decision for some of the four Dolphins who knelt during the national anthem on Sunday, but it was equally difficult for some of those who didn’t.
Linebacker Spencer Paysinger spent a good portion of last week struggling with the idea, consulting with his wife, before opting to stand for the anthem like usual. A big part of that choice was that he did not want to break from his pre-game ritual, which he considers an essential part of doing his job.
“The time that’s allotted for the national anthem, I usually hang on to my shoulder pads and close my eyes and say a prayer for myself, my family, my teammates and the other team for their well-being,” he said today.