ushing -- including the late game-sealing score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is refusing to stand for the national anthem before games because he believes the United States oppresses African Americans and other minorities.Kaepernick sat on the teams bench Friday night during the anthem before the Niners played host to the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game. He later explained his reasoning in an interview with NFL Media .I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color, Kaepernick said. 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.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Saturday that players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem.The 49ers issued a statement after Pro Football Talk initially reported on Kaepernicks stand, saying that Americans have the right to protest or support the anthem.The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony, the team said. 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 to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.Coach Chip Kelly said Saturday that he had not talked with Kaepernick about his actions or comments but said that Kaepernick also did not stand for the national anthem before last weeks game in Denver when he was injured and did not play.We recognize his right to do that, Kelly said. Its not my right to tell him not to do something. Thats his right as a citizen.Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents. He has been outspoken on his Twitter account on civil rights issues and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Kaepernick is not the first U.S.-based athlete to use the anthem for protest. In 1996, NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs. The NBA initially suspended Abdul-Rauf for his stance before it was lifted when he said he would stand and pray silently during the song.Kaepernick said he is not worried about any potential fallout from his protest.This is not something that I am going to run by anybody, he told NFL Media. 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.Kaepernicks agent did not immediately return a request for comment.Kaepernick is in competition to win back the starting quarterback job in San Francisco that he lost to Blaine Gabbert last season. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Friday night after missing two games with a tired shoulder. He finished 2 for 6 for 14 yards and added 18 yards on four runs.Kelly said Kaepernick is still in the running to win the starting job and his protest wont impact the decision.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLJ.J. Watt Womens Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. DeAndre Hopkins Texans Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Deandre-hopkins-texans-jersey/ . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Arian Foster Texans Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Lonnie Johnson Womens Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville is determined to get back on the gas against North Carolina State after its high-scoring offense was slowed down by Duke.The visiting Wolfpack not only want to keep the brakes on the seventh-ranked Cardinals and Heisman Trophy contender Lamar Jackson, but knock off a ranked opponent along the way.North Carolina State (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) faces its second straight top-10 road opponent in Louisville (5-1, 3-1). The Wolfpack would like to make up for missing a huge opportunity in last weeks agonizing 24-17 overtime loss at No. 3 Clemson .The Wolfpack defense did nearly everything necessary to win, forcing four turnovers and returning an interception for a touchdown. N.C. State drove toward a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation but missed, opening the door for the Tigers to win in OT. Now the Wolfpacks attention is squarely on Louisville.We believed we were going to win when we went down there and played good enough to win and just didnt get it, N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. Those guys understand what they have to do to do it again, and we dont have any time to lick our wounds. Were playing, in my opinion, as good or better (a) team this week.Louisville would like to prove it after scoring a season low in points in its 24-14 escape of Duke .The output was more than 30 points less than the Cardinals nation-leading average coming in, and having the ball for just over 22 minutes was a factor. But Louisville made the most of its limited time of possession behind Jackson, who accounted for 325 of its 469 yards on offense along with a touchdown each passing and rushing -- including the late game-sealing score.The Cardinals accepted the outcome but know they could have done better. Improvement is certainly needed against N.C. State, which ranks fifth in the ACC in time of possession (31:50 per game) and has a blueprint to follow in keeping the ball out of Jacksons hands.We neeed to be more consistent, said Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, whose teams are 5-1 against N.ddddddddddddC. State. We didnt have a lot of touches in that game and we had some good drives and came away with no points, so weve got to take care of the football.---Some other things to watch as the Wolfpack visit Louisville on homecoming:HEISMAN HYPE: Jacksons playing down being a Heisman favorite hasnt stopped the school from touting him. Louisville has even launched a website promoting him, Lamar8.com , featuring his eye-popping statistics and lighting up a letter in his name after each game. Jackson said that while it was his childhood dream to win the trophy, the reality of actually being mentioned still hasnt hit me. I dont really think about it.NO RETURNS: Its been something close to that for the Wolfpack punt coverage, which has allowed just two returns for six yards this season. Theyll have their hands full against Cardinals return man Jaire Alexander, who took one back 69 yards for a TD against Florida State and had a 90-yard TD return last week against Duke nullified by an illegal block penalty.GOOD HANDS PEOPLE: Five Cardinals have at least 119 yards receiving with wideouts James Quick and Jamari Staples leading the way. They have 480 and 410 yards respectively with Quicks four TDs topping the receiving corps. Quick ranks fourth in the ACC with 80 yards receiving per game with Staples ninth at 68.3.DAYES OF THUNDER: Ranked behind Jackson and Florida States Dalvin Cook in ACC rushing is Wolfpack senior Matt Dayes with 111.5 yards per contest. Just over half of his 669 yards this season have come after contact, and he has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of his last 13 1/2 games.---AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.---AP College Football: collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '