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Another Sponsor Drops Broncos Brandon Marshall

DENVER (CBS4) - Another sponsor has terminated their agreement with Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall.

CenturyLink sent out a statement on Monday stating that the company respects Marshall's decision not to stand during the national anthem but that "whatever issues we face, we also occasionally must stand together to show our allegiance to our common bond as a nation."

marshall
(credit: CenturyLink)

"In our view, the national anthem is one of those moments," the statement reads.

On Friday, Air Force Credit Union announced they were ending their partnership with Marshall.

On Monday afternoon Marshall confirmed the news when speaking with reporters. He also told CBS4 he plans to continue to kneel during "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of Broncos games. Marshall said his action is a protest of injustice against African-Americans and other minorities in American society, and it follows the similar action of San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Marshall was a college teammate of Kaepernick's at Nevada.

Last month CenturyLink announced that they were "joining forces" with Marshall, as well as two other NFL players. At the time, they wrote on their website:

"As part of the agreement ... Marshall ... will appear in local television and radio commercials as well as in online, print and social media promotions. The campaigns, focused on the theme "Home Team, Home Connection," will highlight CenturyLink's interactive TV service, Prism® TV."

Additional Resources

CenturyLink's shared the following complete statement about Marshall with CBS4:

We completely respect Brandon Marshall's personal decision and right to take an action to support something in which he strongly believes. America is anchored in the right of individuals to express their beliefs. While we acknowledge Brandon's right, we also believe that whatever issues we face, we also occasionally must stand together to show our allegiance to our common bond as a nation. In our view, the national anthem is one of those moments. For this reason, while we wish Brandon the best this season, we are politely terminating our agreement with him.

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