Bucs WR Mike Evans wouldn’t stand for the national anthem because Donald Trump was elected

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans kneeled for the national anthem before Tampa Bay faced off with the Chicago Bears on Sunday, and at the time he made it clear that he intended to continue to do so. In a statement released Tuesday, Evans said he will resume standing with his teammates.

Evans’ protest wasn’t a show of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick and others who have knelt and raised fists during the anthem this season. He said he was specifically protesting Donald Trump becoming the United States’ president-elect.

”When Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we’ve been punked, then I’ll stand again,” Evans told reporters after the game, according to Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today. “But I won’t stand anymore.”

Evans said he isn’t a particularly political person, but the results of this election demonstrate that “something’s not right.”

“If this happens, then America’s not right right now,” Evans said. “I said this a long time ago. When [Donald Trump] ran, I thought it was a joke, and the joke continues. I’m not a political person that much, but I got common sense.”

Evans emphasized that his decision to kneel was not intended as a slight at the nation’s military.

“I don’t want to, you know, disrespect the veterans or anything,” Evans said. “The men and women who serve this country, I’m forever indebted to them. But the things that’s been going on in America lately, I’m not going to stand for that.”

On Tuesday, Evans reaffirmed his feelings about the election results and his respect for the U.S. military and veterans in a statement released via ESPN’s Josina Anderson. He said, however, that he will resume standing with his teammates during the anthem.

I want to start by apologizing to all the U.S. military members, their families, and the fans who I offended by my actions on Sunday. It was never my intention as I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve our country.

I have very strong emotions regarding some of the many issues that exist in our society today. I chose to sit as an expression of my frustration towards this year’s election. It was very personal for me, as it was for so many Americans.

With that being said, I will not sit again during the National Anthem because I want to focus my efforts on finding more effective ways to communicate my message and bring about change by supporting organizations and movements that fight for equal rights for minorities.

This Sunday, I will be back to standing with my teammates.

Evans did not notify the team of his decision to protest during the anthem or the reasoning behind it prior to Sunday’s game, but it won’t be an issue in the future.