NFL-National Football League roundup

Aug 27 (The Sports Xchange) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he refused to stand during the national anthem before Friday's preseason game in protest of the country's racial inequalities. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media after Friday night's game against the Green Bay Packers in Santa Clara, Calif. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." The 49ers acknowledged in a statement that Kaepernick sat during the national anthem. "The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony," the 49ers statement said. "It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. "In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem." The NFL issued a statement on the matter. "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem," the NFL said. -- The 49ers traded cornerback Kenneth Acker to the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed draft choice. Acker must pass a physical for the trade to be executed. He was selected by San Francisco in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. After spending his rookie season on the injured reserve list (foot), Acker appeared in 15 games (13 starts) for the 49ers in 2015 and registered 68 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defensed. -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell says he "feels great" after his first live action in 10 months, showing no problems from last year's knee surgery. Bell, who tore two ligaments in his right knee in November, had 58 total yards in the Steelers' 27-14 win over the New Orleans Saints on Friday night. Bell caught five passes for 37 yards and rushed for 21 yards on three carries. He also had a fumble. Bell will miss the first three games of the season after the NFL reduced his suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy from four games to three. -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, in his first live NFL action since Week 15 of the 2014 season, seemed to be in midseason form in the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night. Gordon caught a 44-yard pass down the right sideline from Robert Griffin III on the Browns' second play of the game and a 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter in the 30-13 loss to the Bucs. The two catches were Gordon's only two targets. "It feels great," Gordon said after the game. "I feel really good to be out there with my teammates, my brothers." Gordon had been suspended indefinitely by the NFL since February 2015 without pay for multiple violations of the NFL-NFLPA Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Friday's game was Gordon's first since Dec. 21, 2014. Gordon will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season. He missed the first two preseason games with a quadriceps injury. -- The New England Patriots signed linebacker Jonathan Freeny to a two-year contract extension, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder Freeny is now under contract through 2018. Freeny, 27, joined the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2011. He will be entering his second season with the Patriots. Freeny, who also plays a key role on special teams, played in 13 games last year with Patriots, recording a career-high 50 tackles, one sack, one pass defensed and two fumble recoveries. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))