KIRO-7 asked fans around the region what they thought of players kneeling in protest during the national anthem.
Albert Smith Jr. of Renton said, "I think it's a good thing still."
Smith said he likes what these professional football players are doing on the field when the national anthem is sung.
"If you've been trying to talk to people in a different way and nobody's listening," he said, "you just have to find another way to do it. And I think it's the right thing that they're doing."
Tony Nguyen supports the players but thinks they should be out on the field during the anthem.
"Because you're still, you know, you're still doing the anthem and you still respect the flag," Nguyen said. "But at the same time you want to speak your voice."
Then there is Norm Griffin of Renton, who said, "I had friends who died defending this country. And then I see that disgusting stuff. I don't watch the NFL anymore. I won't until the owners do something about it."
That may be showing up in TV ratings. We checked the numbers for the first two games of the season. An average of 737,000 households had the game on. But yesterday, that number was down - a 9 percent drop in viewership.
"And not everybody's going to agree," said Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "And that's why it's a protest."
Carroll says he is fully behind the players.
"If people stop watching the games and stop supporting the teams, might there be a different reaction?" Carroll was asked.
"I don't know," Carroll. "I don't know how that'll play. Right now it's trying by doing the right thing."
The coach was also asked what the team will do during Sunday's home game. He said he doesn't know yet. He said they are too busy looking at film and trying to figure out who has a sprained ankle.
In other words, stay tuned.
Related coverage
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- Villanueva regrets being the lone Steelers player to stand for the national anthem
- Are NFL players required to stand for the national anthem?
- PHOTOS: Seahawks vs. Titans
- VIDEO: Seahawks fans react to national anthem protest
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