Houston Texans Defensive End JJ Watt Says “I’ll Take a Knee;” Does Not Think It’s “Disrespecting the Flag or Our Military”

The backlash against athletes kneeling for the flag or the national anthem has intensified.

When Colin Kaepernick first kneeled, the ratings for the NFL dropped for the rest of the season.

Will the protests impact ratings this next upcoming sports seasons?

If history is any indication, yes.

Now, more and more players are openly talking about taking a knee.

ESPN confirms that JJ Watt will take a knee:

In a response to a person tweeting that he was "pretty sure" J.J. Watt would not be taking a knee during the national anthem, along with three American flag emojis, the Houston Texans defensive end made it clear that taking a knee is not about the American flag.

"If you still think it's about disrespecting the flag or our military, you clearly haven't been listening," Watt tweeted on Saturday.

Last week, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees apologized after initially saying he will "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America."On Friday, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said he will take a knee during the national anthem next season with his players to protest racial inequality and police brutality.

"Yeah, I'll take a knee -- I'm all for it," O'Brien told the Houston Chronicle. "The players have a right to protest, a right to be heard and a right to be who they are. They're not taking a knee because they're against our flag. They're taking a knee because they haven't been treated equally in this country for over 400 years."

When the majority of Texans players took a knee against the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 after then-team owner Bob McNair said in an owners meeting, "We can't have the inmates running the prison," in reference to player demonstrations and protests during the national anthem, Watt was injured and not on the sideline.

Fans have complained that politics shouldn't infiltrate sports.

But now, it's appears that everything is being politicized.

JJ Watt claims that it isn't about the American flag.

However, the man who started this, Colin Kaepernick, appeared to suggest that it IS about the flag.

According to USA Today, Kaepernick talked about the flag directly:

Here’s what he [Kaepernick] told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche:

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

The Niners also issued a statement on Kaepernick’s decision — it’s also worth noting this wasn’t the first time this preseason that he’s sat:

“The National Anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”

Kaepernick joins other big-name athletes including NBA stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade — whose cousin was shot and killed in Chicago on Friday — who have used their platforms to press for social change. The QB has used his Twitter feed to retweet stories and posts about issues of race and social injustice.

“This is not something that I am going to run by anybody,” Kaepernick added to Wyche. “I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”

Anyone who claims that this isn't about the American flag hasn't been paying attention.

This is what happens when emotional virtue signaling overtakes logic and reason.