Shannon Sharpe On NFL Protests: 'We're Asking For Our Respect'

DENVER (CBS4) - Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe commented on the protests that occurred around the NFL this weekend.

"People seem to think that they can tell, 'Shannon it's okay, look at you, look at some of the more prominent African Americans,'" Sharpe said this morning on "Undisputed," his sports debate show with co-host Skip Bayless. "But no, we make up a small, small portion. We're disproportionate. We're not the norm in black society. So if you don't experience that, you don't know it exists."

Several players either knelt or held up their right fists during the national anthem in protest to the way they feel African-Americans and other minorities are treated in American society.

One of the players to protest this past weekend is current Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who says he'll take a knee again during the anthem ahead of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

"I'm not against the military," Marshall said after Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. "I'm not against the police or America. I'm just against social injustice."

"I'm not saying all cops are bad," Sharpe said. "All blacks are not thugs. All whites are not racist. All I'm saying is that you judge each individual person on his or her merits."

"All we're asking for is our respect and our dignity. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Undisputed" airs weekdays on FS1 at 7:30 a.m. MT.