Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane said that it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision to thrust himself into a situation that has drawn national attention all week, and undoubtedly will now put him in a spotlight, which he hasn’t felt before.

Lane said, “I thought about it for a week or so and I just think it’s okay for me to do it,’’ He sat during the national anthem before the Seahawks’ 23-21 preseason win over the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.

Lane said that he did it mostly to show support for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sat during the anthem in a game last Friday saying that he had been protesting the treatment of people of color in the United States, and particularly issues with police.

Lane, who is in his fifth year with the Seahawks after being taken in the 2012 draft said, “I wasn’t trying to say anything, just standing behind Kaepernick,’’.

Lane, who attended Northwestern (La.) State, said that he did not know Kaepernick well but that “I just liked what he’s doing and I like standing behind him.’’

Lane said that he did not tell teammates or coach Pete Carroll.  He told, “Nah, I didn’t tell anyone was going to do it, I just did it”.

Lane, who signed a four-year, $23 million contract in the offseason to stay with the Seahawks, said that he has been prepared for whatever backlash comes his way. While a valuable part of Seattle’s secondary, he has started just six games and is hardly as well-known as many of his teammates. Most may know Lane for suffering devastating wrist and knee injuries on the same play in the Super Bowl XLIX loss to New England.

By Prakriti Neogi