Buffalo is one of the smaller market teams in the NFL, and a city that’s enriched with blue collar workers and conservatism. Head coach Rex Ryan is an avid supporter for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The San Francisco 49ers will travel to Buffalo on Sunday for Colin Kaepernick’s first start of the 2016 season. Many, including Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy, are anticipating rowdy Bills fans to heckle Kaepernick all afternoon because of his national anthem protest.
LeSean McCoy to #Bills fans on Kaepernick "Be professional. Be respectful. You know right from wrong. … He has feelings. He has a family."
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) October 12, 2016
Both the ratings and the media coverage of Kaepernick’s first start are expected to exceed the norm for a meddling 49ers-Bills matchup. Kaepernick’s activism has been a lightning rod issue throughout the entire country; his play has been triumph or tragic during his seven-year NFL career.
Players from the 49ers, Dolphins, Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Rams, Eagles, Titans and Redskins have held some sort of protest during the Star-Spangled Banner so far this season. Kaepernick doesn’t deny his protest woke some people up to a serious problem in America.
“I think people are realizing the injustices and the oppression that’s taking place in this country and it’s something that needs to be addressed,” Kaepernick said Tuesday in the locker room. “I think it’d have a huge impact on a lot of people’s lives and that’s ultimately what the goal is to affect this country and those people positively. As far as on the football field, I’m excited to be back out there. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to be out there with my teammates and fight with them and try to get this win this Sunday. I’m ready.”