Ex-NFL Player Jermichael Finley Thinks Anthem Protests Are About ‘Marketing’

Former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley believes some NFL players protesting during the national anthem may not have the purest of motives.

“Athletes are looked up to & serve as roll models, leave personal opinions about race and politics alone,” Finley wrote Monday in a since-deleted tweet. “Do what you get paid to do & play!”

“But is it for selfish reason (marketing). Or is it FOR REAL that they care,” he added later.

Finley, who had his career cut short by neck injuries, spoke with TMZ on Monday night and elaborated on his point.

“It’s more of marketing, it’s not really in their heart that they really want to do that,” Finley told TMZ. “But once again, I think it's a selfish reason I…