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As expected, Colin Kaepernick knelt for the national anthem prior to the 49ers' Monday night opener against the Rams, something he has been doing since the preseason to protest the treatment of African Americans in this country.

Kaepernick has been both praised and criticized for his stance (as it were); some military members supporting the quarterback helped #VeteransforKaepernick trend on social media last month while former NFL quarterbacks-turned-TV analysts Boomer Esiason and Trent Dilfer took issue with Kaepernick's decision.

Esiason called it "about as disrespectful as any athlete has ever been," while Dilfer said this during ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" (via 49erswebzone.com):

"No matter how passionate you are, no matter how much of a burden you have for a social issue, you don't let it get in the way of the team. And the big thing that hit me through all of this was this is a backup quarterback whose job is to be quiet and sit in the shadows and get the starter ready to play Week 1. Yet, he chose a time when he became the center of attention. And it has disrupted that organization. It has caused friction and torn the fabric of the team.

"Although I respect what he's doing and I respect the passion and burden he has for this issue, a massive issue, I do not respect the fact that he put himself and his stance above the team because he's not the only one who's passionate about big social issues."

Kaepernick was asked about Dilfer's remarks following the 49ers' 28-0 shellacking of the Rams on MNF.

"I think that's one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard," Kaepernick said, via PFT. "The fact that you say, 'You're a backup quarterback, stay in your place,' that's an issue. To me, you're telling me that my position as a backup quarterback and being quiet is more important than peoples' lives. I would ask him to really have a conversation with the families of people that have been murdered and see if he still feels that way. Because I'd bet you he doesn't. Just because he hasn't experienced that type of oppression."

Shortly after Kaepernick began his protest, he addressed concerns that his decision was disrespectful to the military.

"I have great respect for men and women that have fought for this country," he said. "I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. They fight for freedom. They fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice for everyone. And that's not happening.

"People are dying in vain because this country isn't holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. It's something that's not happening.

"I've seen videos. I've seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought for and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That's not right."

On Monday night, Kaepernick was joined by teammate Eric Reid, who also was on one knee during the national anthem. And several players for both teams raised their fists in protests. Kaepernick was embraced by multiple teammates after the anthem concluded.