CLEVELAND — The laughingstock of the league during a 1-15 season in 2016, the Browns took a dramatic step forward Monday night.
Staging the largest national anthem protest in the NFL in the past two seasons, Browns players made a statement on unity and the need to eliminate hate in the world. In doing so, it might also have been a galvanizing moment for a team fighting for relevance.
Some participants were spurred by troubling incidents like the deadly clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12. Others felt the need to support their peers, like unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who have taken stances against social injustice and police brutality since the start of last season.