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SportsPulse: USA TODAY’s Trysta Krick believes there’s no better time for athletes to speak out.
USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant defended his initial stance on national anthem protests Tuesday by telling Twitter critics he has a “family to feed” and “not saying I don’t care about it.”

Bryant was asked after practice Tuesday his thoughts on NFL players protesting the national anthem.

“Whatever they got going on with that, that’s them,” Bryant told The Dallas Morning News. “I don’t really have nothing to say about that.”

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This preseason, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch have protested — following the lead of free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick from last season. Kaepernick, who kneeled during the anthem last year, is still searching for a job.

After being called out on Twitter for his initial comments, Bryant responded with sub-tweets:

“Listen my life is more than a (expletive) football get real…I’m disappointed in you..”