Probe underway after teen gets racist messages for kneeling

BRUNSWICK, Ohio (AP) — Police and the NAACP are investigating after an Ohio high school football player says he received hateful, racist messages after kneeling during the national anthem before a game.

Rodney Axson Jr. says he kneeled because teammates on his Brunswick High School team used ethnic slurs to refer to the opposing suburban Cleveland team — which has mostly black players — prior to a Sept. 2 game.

The 16-year-old, who is black, says he's since received threatening messages, including a note referencing lynching.

The Cleveland NAACP on Monday said they believe police are taking the matter seriously.

A lawyer for two students says they've admitted to making some of the racially inappropriate comments and are in the process of being disciplined.