Carroll says Seahawks will leave Jeremy Lane's protest 'up to him'

SEATTLE – Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that the team has no plans to interfere with cornerback Jeremy Lane’s announced decision to sit in protest during the national anthem before the team’s games.

“We’ve talked some about it,” Carroll said during his weekly press conference. “He’s pretty clear what he did and what he was trying to express, and I think it’s very simple, and we’ll leave that up to him.

“He’s understanding the responsibility of it, I think, and shouldering it.”

Lane sat during the anthem before the Seahawks’ preseason game last week, and said later that he did so in support of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s similar protest.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kapernick said after beginning his own protest.

Kapernick reached out to Lane and thanked him.

"I don't want to put no pressure on no one,” Lane told the Seattle Times. “I'm doing it for me."

One reported asked Carroll if the team had any additional concern with Lane’s protest given that the team’s season opener will fall on Sept. 11.

“Not specifically to that,” Carroll said. “We have a concern that this date is coming back just because we’re Americans and it matters and it’s an important day.

“But not specifically that.”