Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka says he has 'no respect' for Colin Kaepernick

College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame member and coach Mike Ditka has a strong opinion about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's continued protests during NFL football games.

Kaepernick has sat and knelt in protest during the National Anthem at preseason and season football games.

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Kaepernick said that he is "not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of coloe." His protests have been in response to recent police-involved shooting deaths of unarmed black men.

Ditka was interviewed on the "Shan and RJ Show" on KRLD-FM and the hosts asked for his thoughts on Kaepernick's protest.

Ditka did not mince words.

"I think it's a problem", Ditka said. "Anybody who disrespects our country and disrespects our flag -- if they don't like the country, get the hell out. That's what I think.

"I have no respect for Colin Kaepernick – he probably has no respect for me, that's his choice. My choice is, I like this country, I respect our flag, and I don't see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on."

The atrocities Ditka mentioned may be pointing to recent police-involved shooting deaths of unarmed black men, part of the reason for which Kaepernick is protesting.

"I see opportunities if people want to look for opportunity," Ditka told KRLD-FM. "Now, if they don't want to look for them, then you can find problems with anything, but this is the land of opportunity because you can be anything you want to be if you work. If you don't work, that's a different problem."

Listen to Ditka's interview on KRLD-FM.

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