COLIN KAEPERNICK

Former pro hockey player Akim Aliu has a graphic novel in the works that tells his story and how he overcame racism and poverty.

"The NFL is supposed to be a meritocracy ... If I'm not good enough, get rid of me. But let me come in and show you," Kaepernick said.

In "I Color Myself Different," his first children's book, the athlete and civil rights activist writes about adapting to adoption.

The activist-quarterback discusses the defining moment that sparked his new children’s book, ‘I Color Myself Different.'

Colin Kaepernick compared the NFL to slavery. Now he wants back in.

Colin Kaepernick is seeking receivers to catch his passes and a team to sign him.

The new initiative will eliminate concerns from the first autopsy, ensure that it was conducted without any biases or errors.

The initiative collaborates with a panel of board-certified forensic pathologists who perform autopsies, disclose preliminary findings and issue final reports to requesting families.

Experts and academics say leagues have a long way to go to improve representation in front offices, especially in the C-suite.

Michele Tafoya has swiftly shifted from covering the NFL — a league in the midst of a racial reckoning — to emerging as the latest conservative voice to lash out against critical race theory and diversity initiatives in schools nationwide.

Around the world, athletes are throwing their support behind political and social causes, part of a wave of sports activism that has flourished in the years since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during games to protest police brutality against Black people.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.

A thrilling late touchdown drive gave the Rams a 23-20 win over the Bengals to win the Super Bowl.

Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem put on a dazzling spectacle that also felt like a family affair.

While performing his classic hit "Lose Yourself" on Sunday night, the 15-time Grammy winner got on his knee and held his head.

Today’s most popular idiom of American music was long overdue for this kind of celebration

PepsiDuring Super Bowl LVI’s halftime show extravaganza, featuring the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent, rapper Eminem took a knee in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.Kanye West Targets Pete Davidson, Kid Cudi, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift With Childish Instagram MemesThe move by Eminem came after he performed “Lose Yourself” in front of the sold-out crowd at the LA Rams’ SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. If you recall,

50 Cent knows how to make a surprise entrance.

The New York Police Department has recognized Frank Serpico's service and injury in the line of duty more than 50 years later with an official certificate and inscribed medal of honor.

The ESPN Films series will feature never-before-seen footage from the life of the former NFL quarterback-turned-activist.

The ESPN Films series will feature never-before-seen footage from the life of the former NFL quarterback-turned-activist.

Spike Lee will direct a multi-part documentary for ESPN on Colin Kaepernick that features extensive interviews with the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and access to his personal archive.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian says "all legal rights and interests of Yang Jun have been fully protected," as China rejects comments made by the Australian Foreign Minister about the deteriorating health of the Australian academic, currently held in China, during a press briefing in Beijing.

Ryan Grim takes a second look at the Project Veritas NIH document leak.

Russia has denied accusations by the U.S. that it is seeking a pretext to invade Ukraine. At talks in Europe last week, NATO rejected several of Moscow's demands, including that Ukraine be barred from joining the alliance. Journalist Mary Ilyushina joins CBSN AM from Moscow with the latest.

One of the synagogue members held hostage in Texas says he feared for his life before making a daring escape, as we learn more about the investigation into the gunman's movements before the standoff. Omar Villafranca reports.

Verizon and AT&T will roll out 5G service Wednesday after a delay to create buffer zones around airports. Airlines still warn that hundreds of thousands of flights could be canceled starting this week without further federal action. CBS News transportation correspondent Errol Barnett reports from Reagan national airport.

Omicron continues to sweep the nation, but health officials believe there's evidence of light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the COVID-19 variant. Also, new details on the end of the synagogue standoff and a warning it could happen again. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener.

Former leader of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev denies any conflict with his successor in his first appearance since unrest in the Central Asian country sparked rumours of a power struggle. Much of the anger amid protests earlier this month that erupted into violence appeared directed at Nazarbayev, who had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989 before handing over power, but who was widely believed to remain in control behind the scenes.

US airlines warn of 'calamity' if 5G deployed near airports. VIDEOGRAPHIC

A bipartisan group of U.S senators made the promise on Monday after Russia massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine's borders.

Tonga was virtually cut off from the rest of the world Monday after a massive volcanic blast that crippled communications with the Pacific island nation, and experts warned internet connection may not be fully restored for weeks. VIDEOGRAPHIC

People head to Jabal al-Lawz (Almond Mountain) in Saudi Arabia's northwestern region of Tabuk, as snow covers the area following temperature drops in the kingdom. Each year, Saudis head to the 2580 metre mountain when snow falls and set up tents or picnics to experience the cold weather.

Oil from a spill washes ashore in the Peruvian seaside city of Ventanilla, near the capital Lima. The leakage from a ship loading oil into Repsol's La Pampilla Refinery was caused by strong waves after the volcanic eruption in Tonga, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (COEN).

President Joe Biden came to office one year ago on promises to heal a deeply divided nation and end the unrelenting COVID pandemic. Biden wraps up his first year with some notable achievements, but progress on those two vows as elusive as ever. (Jan. 18)

The storm that blasted the Carolinas over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend was the biggest snowmaker several ski resorts have seen in two years.

Highlights of Today in History: Soviet Union breaks WWII Leningrad siege; Robert F. Scott reaches South Pole; Boston Strangler suspect Albert de Salvo convicted. (Jan. 18)

AccuWeather's Tony Laubach reported live on Jan. 17 from Buffalo, New York, where more than a foot and a half of snow in fell less than a day.

The surge of new COVID-19 cases brought on by the Omicron variant continues to set records and strain hospitals across the nation. CBS news correspondent Mola Lenghi reports from New York City. Then Dr. Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, a family medicine physician in New Hampshire, joins CBSN to discuss the latest on the impact.

Hundreds of Colorado families are still looking for a place to live after their homes were destroyed or damaged in last month's Marshall Fire. Janet Shamlian shares more.

Some areas in the Northeast saw up to 2 inches of snowfall per hour, making it hard for road crews to keep up. Officials across the Northeast are advising people to stay home if they can. Nikki Battiste reports.

AccuWeather's Bill Wadell reported live from one of the tallest mountains in the Appalachians, where people braved single-digit RealFeel temperatures to ski and snowboard on fresh powder.

Economists say Venezuela has come out of a four-year cycle of hyperinflation, but citizens like pensioner Humberto Reco are still waiting to see the evidence. The crisis-wracked South American country ended 2021 with inflation of 686 percent, according to the central bank, meaning the end of a period of hyperinflation that began in 2017.

From Massachusetts to central California, hospitals say they are short-staffed and are pleading with the public on social media to get vaccinated.

Long known as a holiday dedicated to service, this Martin Luther King Jr. Day is taking on renewed significance as voting rights legislation faces seemingly insurmountable hurdles in Congress.

Kim Iversen explains what 'The Great Reset' is.

Ryan Grim, Kim Iversen, and Robby Soave discuss myocarditis incidence in young men.

A cold-case investigation into famous diarist Anne Frank's betrayal has identified a surprising suspect in the mystery of how the Nazis found Frank's hiding place in 1944.

Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, Sanho Tree, explains that despite some leading headlines, smoking weed will not stop you from being infected with COVID-19.

A new CBS News poll shows less than half of Americans surveyed approve of President Joe Biden's handling of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the surgeon general says the Omicron variant has not yet peaked in many parts of the U.S., which face a tough few weeks. Infectious disease doctor Dr. Rajeev Fernando joined CBSN to discuss what more the Biden administration could be doing.

North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday morning. If confirmed, this would be the country's fourth successful test this year. Elizabeth Palmer reports.

A New Jersey vertical farm has recreated the conditions of the Japanese Alps to grow rare omakase berries. The CEO hopes his berries can revolutionize the quality of produce in the country. CBS News’ national correspondent Jericka Duncan visited the farm for our series “The Dish.”

The latest CBS News poll found Americans are frustrated with the Biden administration's handling of COVID-19, the economy and inflation after nearly a year of his presidency. Ed O'Keefe reports from the White House.

Palestinian men hold a gas canister on the roof of a house in Jerusalem's flashpoint neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah as Israeli police prepare to evict a family from the same building

The pilot of a medical helicopter that crash-landed without loss of life next to a church in a residential area of suburban Philadelphia last week thanked his crew and first responders. Danial Moore spoke as he left a hospital Sunday. (Jan. 17)

In a year of firsts as the oldest U.S. sitting president and the first first lady with a job, Joe and Jill Biden are paving new ground. (Jan. 17)

There's no municipal sewage system in the unincorporated areas of Lowndes County, Alabama, and an estimated 80% of households have no adequate septic system either.

Colin Kaepernick will release a series of books through the children’s publisher Scholastic, starting with a picture story scheduled for next year.

History dictates that it’s likely at least a couple of the five first-round quarterbacks won’t fulfill the hopes of the teams that drafted them.

Inspired by the racial justice protests of 2020, Jahm Najafi is ready to shed his normally low profile to make some headlines for his partnerships and philanthropy.

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and a Los Angeles-based political action committee have reached a settlement that bars the Georgia Republican from blocking anyone from her public Twitter account or other social media while she's in office. However, Greene was acidly critical of the settlement in a tweet. “Because of this PAC’s frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m not allowed to block people that threaten my life and my children’s lives every single day on social media," she tweeted. Although it wasn't her formal congressional Twitter account, MeidasTouch said Greene uses it as a “de facto" official account, sharing her positions and doing fundraising drives. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, was sued in a similar case that she later settled.

FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2021, file photo, workers sculpt the Lombardi Trophy out of sand outside of Raymond James Stadium ahead of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla. The city is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. 269, the Super Bowl, is set to be a fascinating matchup of young (Mahomes) vs. old (Brady) — the Kansas City Chiefs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Because of rescheduling, there were games played on every day of the week, including Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Mahomes returned a week after the scary incident and led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl.

TAMPA, Fla. – The many lessons learned from 2020 will be needed as the NFL moves forward, Commissioner Roger Goodell noted Thursday in his annual state of the league news conference ahead of the Super Bowl. “I know we have learned to work in a very difficult environment, and we will do it again. That is one of the things we learned ... hearing clubs and the NFLPA saying our relationship has never been stronger. He added the NFL will look into what changes from the pandemic season are worth keeping in a post-COVID-19 world. Goodell said team owner Daniel Snyder has begun to make changes and is welcoming the probe.

___2:30 p.m.Commissioner Roger Goodell says he wishes he knew the answer to what the 2021 season will look like. Ad___2:30 p.m.Commissioner Roger Goodell says former quarterback Colin Kaepernick deserves recognition and appreciation for bringing up issues of social justice and racism. ___2:30 p.m.Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will look into what changes from the pandemic season are worth keeping in a post-COVID-19 world. ___2:25 p.m.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is not satisfied with only two minorities hired for seven head coach openings. ___2:20 p.m.Commissioner Roger Goodell says an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment in the Washington Football Team’s organization will be finished soon.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Five days after hiring Urban Meyer as head coach, the Jaguars appear to be close to promoting interim general manager Trent Baalke to the role of general manager, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The top internal candidate, he stays to work with new coach Urban Meyer. When the early reports of Urban Meyer’s connection to the Jaguars came out, Baalke was the name most connected to Meyer as a general manager. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2012, his second year in the league when he was also named a first-team All-Pro. Buckner made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and was voted a first-team All-Pro in 2020 with the Indianapolis Colts.

That's changing now that Rapinoe has returned to the U.S. national team for its January training camp in Florida after sitting out most of last year. The last time Rapinoe played for the national team was on March 11, when she scored in a 3-1 SheBelieves Cup victory over Japan. The national team settled its dispute with the federation over unequal working conditions in December, leaving the pay dispute still unresolved. Rapinoe, 35, has scored 52 goals with 68 assists in 168 appearances with the national team since her first call-up in 2006. She scored on a penalty kick in the United States' victory over the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final.

The Browns not only snapped a 17-game skid at Heinz Field, they manhandled the mistake-prone archrival Steelers 48-37 Sunday night. After two postseason flops, Jackson was his usual dynamic and decisive self in leading the Ravens to a 20-13 wild-card victory at Tennessee. Browns 48, Steelers 37In their first playoff road victory since 1969, the Browns (12-5) overcame all sorts of problems and history. Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and the Browns got their first playoff win in 26 years. While leading his new team, the Buccaneers (12-5), to their first playoff win since Tampa Bay won the 2002 championship, Brady extended his record for playoff victories to 31.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrates after the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans in an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lamar Jackson finally has his first postseason victory — and on the road, no less. Combine that with Baltimore smothering 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry, and the Ravens look playoff tough. After the turnover, the Ravens came onto the field and started waving good-bye to the Titans — drawing a taunting penalty they didn't mind at all. “We won the division, hosted a home playoff game,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. The Ravens held Tennessee to minus-7 yards in the second quarter, the third fewest in any quarter of a playoff game since the 2000 season.

However, none was able to knock off the Chiefs in the final AP Pro32 poll of the 2020 regular season. The Buffalo Bills stayed at No. The teams split their two meetings in the regular season, but the Seahawks won the most recent matchup, in Week 16. The Baltimore Ravens, the third team from the AFC North to make the playoffs, stayed at No. 16 after topping Philadelphia in the last game of the regular season and was the lowest-ranked team to make the playoffs.

The NBA painted “Black Lives Matter” on the courts inside their Orlando, Florida, “bubble" and social justice messages were emblazoned on the backs of jerseys. Paul met with NBA players, and they decided awareness wasn’t enough anymore. “Black Lives Matter” also was featured prominently on the league’s courts. Wallace, the only full-time Black driver at the NASCAR national level, first began speaking out against racial injustice in America in the spring. His car featured a “Black Lives Matter” paint scheme.

“But I don’t have to agree with it.”And that’s absolutely fine, said Ish Smith, the Wizards guard who signed Pittman’s cap. “When I played, players and coaches were never — maybe not never; rarely — asked about politics and voting,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. It’s an environment that led Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, Tennessee Titans linebacker Will Compton, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and others to proudly note they were voting for the first time. And led WNBA players Tamika Catchings and Chiney Ogwumike to sign up to be poll workers. And led Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul to join nearly 2,500 people on a march to a voting site in North Carolina.

Free agent safety Eric Reid told The Associated Press he declined an offer to join Washington's practice squad, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)Free agent safety Eric Reid told The Associated Press he declined an offer to join Washington's practice squad. “I just don’t think playing on the practice squad is reflective or indicative of my career,” Reid said in a phone interview on Tuesday. He said he was told Washington wants to give Curl a shot at starting. “I'm just not in a place to play on the practice squad right now,” Reid said, adding that he texted Rivera to let him know his decision.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Bartram Trail High School finds itself in the middle of a national debate over kneeling during the national anthem. For the past two weeks, some members of the school’s football team have kneeled during the playing of the national anthem. It happened at the game on Sept. 11 against Creekside and then at Friday’s game at Mandarin High School. It is done in absolute silence and reverence.”Kneeling during the national anthem has become a major flash point in sports since former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting during it in 2016. Silent protests during the anthem at the high school level, at least locally, have been slower to develop, but the turbulence of 2020 has made those more visible.

After about 15 seconds, they rose, trotted off the field, and the game proceeded as normal. So we’ll just stay inside until it’s time to play the game,” Miami players said in the video. Goodell posted a video in June conceding that the league had been late in acknowledging the problem. Since then, the league has taken visible steps like allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts. Some team owners have pledged money toward social justice causes or offered their stadiums as polling places for the November election.

Members of the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles form an oval on the field before the start of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)The Latest on Week 1 in the NFL (all times EDT):___It’s here! The 2020 NFL season kicks off today with 14 games after a strange offseason in which teams learned their playbooks via videoconference and didn’t play any preseason games. The Washington players and members of the Philadelphia Eagles lined up together, forming an oval prior to their game. --Arnie Stapleton reporting from Denver..___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Freeman is still unsigned as Week 1 of the NFL season begins. Several familiar names and players on roster bubbles took turns on the unemployment line with some finding new jobs. Adrian Peterson was cut last week by Washington, but quickly landed in Detroit. Here's a look at notable available players at each position:QUARTERBACKSBlake Bortles, Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer, Trevor Siemian, Drew Stanton. WIDE RECEIVERSAntonio Brown, Dez Bryant, Mohamed Sanu, Hakeem Butler, Quincy Enunwa, Chester Rogers, Demaryius Thomas, Jermaine Kearse, Ryan Grant, Jordan Matthews, Laquon Treadwell.

And to some, the odds seem greater, this time, that what the athletes are calling for might actually come to pass. We get paid to go out there and play and do our job. All this stands in stark contrast from the predominant attitude of athletes during Jordan's prime an attitude Jordan himself embodied. Among the more than four dozen Black athletes who are part of the cause are Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and Olympic champion sprinter Allyson Felix. Black athletes and celebrities have not been fully welding their power.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro made clear he won't let the fight against racial injustice recede from the conversation even as Tennessee returned to practice Friday. I know for me, the next step is just taking action, getting in the communities, being a shining light and an example, Vaccaro said. Not just a black square that everybody in the world posted on Instagram and thought that meant something. Asked if sitting out a regular-season game has been discussed, Vaccaro said the Titans haven't planned that far ahead. Vaccaro also has talked with safety Kevin Byard about how children look up to athletes as heroes with few Martin Luther King Jrs.

Guys are sick and tired of being sick and tired, McDougald said Wednesday during a video conference call. Within the confines of the team's facility, McDougald is a respected pro football player whose main concern is stopping the offense. Guys are sick and tired of being sick and tired, McDougald said Wednesday during a video conference call. Or, the countless other Black men and women who have been victims of police brutality or social injustice. And Im going to deal with it for the rest of my life, and my kids are going to deal with it."

Anson Carter filled his time in pandemic isolation walking 11 miles a day, sometimes with his dogs, around his Atlanta neighborhood. To use a hockey term from his playing days, he kept his head on a swivel. I dont take it for granted.It's the sort of experience the 46-year-old TV analyst wants to explain to viewers. He'll get that chance beginning Tuesday, when NBC Sports launches a new Hockey Culture show spearheaded by Carter a 10-year NHL player to try to change the culture of hockey, one interview at a time.The initiative comes amid an awakening in hockey about systemic racism and its role in the majority white sport. The former right wing from Toronto considers his role an opportunity to put a voice to concerns about racism in hockey and the world.

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) holds his hand to his heart during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in New Orleans. The 41-year-old Brees, who is the NFL's all-time leader in yards passing, completions and touchdowns, is entering his 20th NFL season and 15th with the New Orleans Saints. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)NEW ORLEANS Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he'll remain standing for The Star Spangled Banner, but professed respect and support for those who protest racism and social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. Brees faced a scathing backlash from several current and former Black teammates and other high-profile athletes such as LeBron James. Weve applied a lot of different techniques and a lot of training methods, Brees said.

San Francisco Giants' manager Gabe Kapler kneels during the national anthem prior to an exhibition baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Monday, July 20, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)OAKLAND, Calif. San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before Monday night's exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. Kapler, beginning his first season managing the Giants after two disappointing years guiding the Phillies, didn't discuss his plans to kneel in a pregame session with media members. Kapler has been outspoken about social injustice and racial issues and athletes' roles in helping spur positive change. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial inequality and police mistreatment of minorities. Former A's catcher Bruce Maxwell in 2017 became the first major leaguer to kneel for the anthem since Kaepernick began his silent protest.

Perhaps the biggest headlines Brady drew recently came when he defied players' union recommendations to cease informal practices with teammates as a coronavirus precaution. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)In seven weeks, the NFL expects to kick off its 101st season with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs hosting Houston. Still set on conducting a somewhat normal training camp, though without any preseason games, and then opening the regular season on time, the NFL pushes onward. We could have a ton of social distance, more than we have with our football team, Chiefs coach Andy Reid says. Perhaps the biggest headlines Brady drew recently came when he defied players' union recommendations to cease informal practices with teammates as a coronavirus precaution.

The Giants were playing an exhibition game at Oakland on Monday night with no fans after a months-long delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It turned out Davis had all kinds of support on every side of him, including from first-year San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler, who also took a knee before the Giants' 6-2 victory. So did first base coach Antoan Richardson, while shortstop Brandon Crawford stood between Davis and Richardson with a hand on each man's shoulder. The 26-year-old Davis, who is Black, said it was a difficult decision to kneel given he is a rookie. Then Yastrzemski and Hunter Pence pulled him aside and assured the right fielder they would support him regardless.

(Joe Klamar/Pool via AP)SPIELBERG Standing on the podium to celebrate his latest win, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton raised a clenched right fist and then delivered a message to his fellow drivers not to slow down in the fight against racism. On Sunday Hamilton and the other 19 F1 drivers wore black T-shirts with End Racism on them, as they had done at last weekend's season-opening Austrian GP. Williams and Hamilton have both referenced the Black Lives Matter movement, which Hamilton wore on the front of his T-shirt on Sunday. Hamilton attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport. Although he also praised F1 chairman Chase Carey and governing body FIA for donating money to help promote more equality and diversity in F1, Hamilton clearly feels there is still a long way to go.

Colin Kaepernick will be featured in a documentary series produced by ESPN Films as part of a first-look deal with The Walt Disney Co. The deal between Kaepernicks production arm, Ra Vision Media, and The Walt Disney Co. was announced Monday. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity. His deal with The Walt Disney Co. will extend across all Disney platforms, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar and The Undefeated. Developing exceptional storytelling told through a wide array of voices is at the core of who we are at ESPN, ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said.

Wary of the optics and the fallout, Bell, who is Black, heeded the advice of his girlfriend. (She told me) Youre going to make a lot more impact with your platform than going to this riot right now. Thats something that could change your career in a heartbeat.And not the kind of change the 27-year-old All-Star from Texas wants to impart. I feel like social justice is something that a lot of people are learning right now, Bell said. It's made going to work far easier than it might have been if he'd just silently seethed.

LOS ANGELES Colin Kaepernick is joining with Emmy-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay on a Netflix drama series about the teenage roots of the former NFL players activism. Colin in Black & White will examine Kaepernick's high school years to illuminate the experiences that shaped his advocacy, Netflix said Monday. Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens, Kaepernick said in a statement. Writing by on the six-episode series was completed in May, the streaming service said. Kaepernick will appear as himself as the limited series' narrator, Netflix said.

(AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)Players for the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage knelt during the national anthem Saturday when the National Women's Soccer League opened the Challenge Cup tournament in Utah. In addition to the anthem, the players knelt for a moment of silence before kickoff. The league said Friday that it would play the national anthem before the Challenge Cup games and that it would support the players in whatever they chose to do. The monthlong Challenge Cup opened Saturday with a pair of games at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Megan Rapinoe, who plays for OL Reign but opted out of the Challenge Cup, was criticized when she knelt at a NWSL game and a pair of national team games in 2016.

Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 who the next year led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. The Chargers could explore bringing Kaepernick in for a workout depending on what happens during the preseason, Lynn said. Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last week that he received a call from another team about Kaepernick. Carroll and the Seahawks brought Kaepernick in for a workout in 2017 and had another planned in 2018 but it was canceled. Lynn was the offensive coordinator for most of the 2016 season in Buffalo, where Taylor was his quarterback.

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2018, file photo, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)Roger Goodell would like to see Colin Kaepernick back in the NFL this season. The NFL commissioner said during ESPN's The Return of Sports special on Monday that he is encouraging teams to sign the 32-year old quarterback, who hasn't played the past three seasons. If he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously its gonna take a team to make that decision. I hope were at a point now where everybodys committed to making long-term, sustainable change, Goodell said.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said he believes that players are kneeling to protest police brutality, not because they disrespect the flag. It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter, the directors said. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked the issue four years ago when he refused to stand during the national anthem because of his views on the countrys treatment of racial minorities. Kaepernick has not played since that season as no team has been willing to sign him. Trump has returned to the topic frequently over the years as he considers it politically beneficial, saying at one point that those players who dont stand for the national anthem should be fired.

(AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)BALTIMORE Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon criticized the timing of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's assertion that the league believes black lives matter," saying Monday that the message should have been delivered long ago. In the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, Goodell said on June 5, We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter. Its not when Roger Goodell said black lives matter that now everybody can say it," Judon said. I think we should have been questioning why Roger Goodell didnt say black lives matter when he was born, or when he became commissioner or when he was re-elected commissioner. Black lives should always matter.

U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone apologized Saturday for the federation's lack of leadership in the fight against racism as she addressed its decision to repeal a policy that required players to stand during the national anthem. We are committed to doing better to help fight racism and discrimination in all its forms, Parlow Cone said. It was the first board meeting Parlow Cone has led as president. The U.S. Womens National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequities. Rapinoe kneeled during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.

U.S. Soccer's board of directors has voted to repeal a 2017 policy that required national team players to stand during the national anthem, a rule adopted after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in support of Colin Kaepernick. The board made the decision during a conference call, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. The U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, which includes current national team players Alex Morgan and Ali Krieger, as well as former players like Landon Donovan, called on U.S. Soccer to also apologize for the policy to foster a "positive relationship to exist going forward." The U.S. Women's National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequality. Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.

George Floyd was killed less than three miles from the stadium where the Minnesota Vikings play, so this global unrest over racial relations and justice hit awfully close to home for the team. (Brian Peterson/Star Tribune via AP)MINNEAPOLIS Eric Kendricks woke up distressed shortly after George Floyd was killed just a few miles from the stadium where the Minnesota Vikings play. Commissioner Roger Goodell issued an apology the day after for not listening earlier and encouraged players to speak up and peacefully protest. For the Vikings, like their fellow Twin Cities sports figures, the death of Floyd hit close to home. Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell marched with protesters in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where the death of Breonna Taylor has also stirred uprising.

(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)NFL players who want to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racism have far more support than Colin Kaepernick did four years ago. Lastly, some owners might still have an issue with it despite the leagues support of the players. Whatever our team ends up doing, were gonna support. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones strongly opposed kneeling when Kaepernick began the movement and he hasnt spoken on the issue. ... theyve all dealt with something at some point, whether its with the police or another interaction of just blatant racism, said Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

CHICAGO The U.S. women's national team wants the U.S. Soccer Federation to repeal the anthem policy it instituted after Megan Rapinoe started kneeling during the The Star-Spangled Banner.The U.S. women's team also wants the federation to state publicly that the policy was wrong and issue an apology to the team's black players and supporters. Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016. She said she wanted to express solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who silently took a knee during the national anthem before NFL games to raise awareness of police brutality and racial injustice. The U.S. Soccer Federation then approved a policy in February 2017 that stated players shall stand respectfully during national anthems. A message was left by the AP seeking comment from the federation.

FILE - In this April 15, 2018 file photo, Brittany and Drew Brees arrive at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has apologized for comments he made in an interview regarding his opposition to Colin Kaepernicks kneeling during the national anthem. His wife apologized on Saturday, June 6, 2020, as well, saying we are the problem. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)NEW ORLEANS New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has apologized for comments he made in an interview regarding his opposition to Colin Kaepernicks kneeling during the national anthem. After the comments aired, the quarterback was criticized on social media by high-profile athletes, including LeBron James, and some of his teammates.

The governing body vowed to to do a better job of addressing racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death. Our country must do better.A black NASCAR official took a knee along pit road, mimicking a gesture used by protesters in tribute to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice, Phelps said. After Phelps spoke to the NASCAR drivers, they observed a 30-second moment of silence. ___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 and find his work at https://apnews.com___More AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/NASCAR and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports