NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke highly of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Thursday at his state of the league news conference ahead of the Super Bowl.
Goodell said he was "thankful" for Kaepernick raising the issues he did.
"He deserves our recognition for that and our appreciation," Goodell said.
Goodell apologized to Kaepernick last August, saying, "I wish we had listened earlier, Kaep, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to. ... It is not about the flag. The message here, and what our players are doing, is being mischaracterized.