At the very least, Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel for the national anthem has raised awareness about why he's doing it, which he explained last month: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color."

Granted, the issue has been a contentious one, and as President Obama pointed out this week, the way Kaepernick has chosen to deliver is message might be "messy" but this is how "democracy works."

But Kaepernick also isn't alone; over the weekend, United States Women's National Team member Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem prior to her club team's game, and fellow NFL player, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane did the same. Lane says he will continue to sit and he could have company from teammates.

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is considering following Lane's lead, while linebacker Bobby Wagner said the team has been talking about taking action as a group.

Details via the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta:

While Wagner said he didn't know if he would sit down during the anthem he said "anything we want to do, it's not going to be individual. It's going to be a team thing. That's what the world needs to see. The world needs to see people coming together versus being individuals."

Wagner said he couldn't say exactly what the team might do, saying "whatever we decide to do will be a big surprise."

Meanwhile, Lane has the full support of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

"[Lane's] pretty clear on what he did and what he was trying to express and I think it is very simple and so we'll leave that up to him," Carroll said. "But he understands the responsibility of it, I think, and shouldering it.''

Wagner added: "We have the freedom to do whatever we want here. Whatever we decide to do, we ain't gonna get into too much trouble. We're big kids now."

And Baldwin said he didn't think there would be any issues in the locker room, even if some players disagreed with the idea of sitting during the anthem.

"It's different in our locker room," he explained. "We kind of give each other a lot of slack, so whatever decisions you make, we understand we are all human beings. Some of us might not agree, some of us will agree. But at the same time we give each other slack because we know we are all human beings."

One person that won't have a problem with Lane -- or others: Defensive end Michael Bennett.

"I mean I think it's his right to be able to protest," Bennett said last week, when Lane first made his stance by sitting. "And I think it's all right. I think there are definitely some issues in America that a lot of people are starting to recognize. I think people have recognized them before but I think with social media and the things that are going on out there, the media outlets, everybody has a chance to really show what is going on and their ideas and having a chance to really protest what they think is wrong with America and that's OK, that's what it's about. It's about people having that right to have their voice and I think it's cool that Jeremy Lane is doing what he wants to do."

The Seahawks host the Dolphins on Sunday in the regular-season opener, which just so happens to fall on September 11.