Britt's show of support during anthem protest made Bennett 'emotional'

Justin Britt's show of support for Seattle Seahawks teammate Michael Bennett during the national anthem Friday night did not go unappreciated.

After hearing Bennett's call for a white player to join protest efforts, Britt said the comments led him to place a hand on the defensive end's shoulder while he sat out the national anthem before Friday's preseason game.

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"I want to support him," Britt said after the Seahawks' win over the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "I want to support what he stands for and his beliefs. I'm not foolish. I'm from Missouri. I get that things are different in that area than they are in some other areas. I'm not against what the flag means and veterans. My dad was in the Army. So I'm not putting any disrespect to them. I'm just trying to understand the issues, trying to educate myself more in that regard and showing support ...

"I always tell kids: Don't be a follower. Be the one they're following. So whether it's good or bad in some eyes, I feel like I'm just supporting my teammate, supporting why he's doing it and his reasons, and trying to encourage others."

Britt says that he talked to Bennett beforehand about showing support and is considering sitting out the anthem in the future. Bennett was moved and motivated by the gesture of his teammate.

"A very emotional moment to have that kind of solidarity from someone like Justin Britt, who's a known leader in our locker room, who's from a different part of America than me," Bennett said. "But to be able to have that solidarity and to be able to have somebody who is behind me and know that it's someone that I really trust, and to see him put everything on the line to support one of his teammates, I thought that was a very special moment."