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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When Colin Kaepernicks national anthem protest initially went public, talk immediately turned to whether it would lead to a distraction that would divide the San Francisco 49ers locker room.Two weeks later, as the Niners prepare for their opener Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, the opposite has been the case, in fact, as the team has only gotten closer as players have had in-depth talks that have helped them learn more about one another.It leads to deeper conversations that need to be talked about, not just in our locker room, not just in barber shops around the country but everywhere, receiver Torrey Smith said. There are really issues. People get caught up in what Kap did by sitting down and not by the message that hes trying to send. I think thats the most important thing, to get people talking, and its worked.Kaepernicks protest became public after he sat during the anthem before a home game against Green Bay on Aug. 26. He later explained his reasoning, saying he was protesting the oppression of minorities and police brutality in the United States.That created a media maelstrom that the team had to handle. The Niners immediately put out a statement supporting Kaepernicks right to protest, and the players held a private meeting to allow Kaepernick to explain his reasoning and his teammates to ask questions.Thats really been the last that as a team that we talked about the situation, coach Chip Kelly said. We recognize and respect Kaps decision and his constitutional rights to do what hes doing and it sounds like its been a positive change. Theres been a lot of positive things that have come out of it. So, we havent had any meetings since.Safety Eric Reid joined Kaepernick in the protest in the final exhibition game in San Diego -- with the two kneeling instead of sitting, in a move meant to show more respect to veterans.Even the front office joined in despite a sometimes rocky relationship with Kaepernick that almost led to an offseason trade. Owner Jed York pledged $1 million to the cause of improving racial and economic inequality and starting collaboration between Bay Area law enforcement and the community.I think theres been a lot of open conversations, a lot more conversations going on in general, Kaepernick said. I think ultimately this team and this locker room have gotten a lot closer because of the gaining and understanding of individuals.Kaepernick and Reid plan to continue their protest before the opener and Smith said more teammates might join in. While Seattles Jeremy Lane also has joined the protest and others could as well, dont expect any Rams to do it.Coach Jeff Fisher made his stance clear at a team meeting at the start of training camp. In a message replayed on the HBO show Hard Knocks, Fisher spelled out how his players should approach the anthem: defensive players on the sideline to the left, offensive players to the right, helmets held under the left arm.Fisher said he does not demand that his players follow his rules but stressed how important it is to him.I do have, however, a respect for the anthem and a respect for this country and respect for our flag, he said. I have every right as a head coach and we have the right as an organization to express our feelings from that standpoint.The Rams have had other potential distractions to deal with this offseason as they have dealt with moving the franchise from St. Louis to Los Angeles. The team held offseason workouts in Oxnard, before holding training camp in Irvine and then setting up shop before the regular season in Thousand Oaks, all while moving the entire franchise halfway across the country.They will play their games at the L.A. Coliseum starting with the home opener next week against Seattle.There are just inconveniences, not problems -- little things, quarterback Case Keenum said. The team and organization have done a great job keeping us as comfortable as we can. Just trying to get in the regular routine and play in a regular season game.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Jordan Retro 6 China . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Jordan 6 For Sale Cheap . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. http://www.cheapairjordan6.net/ . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Air Jordan 6 Outlet . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Air Jordan 6 Retro For Sale . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook recorded his second straight triple-double and NBA-best seventh of the season with 17 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Detroit Pistons 106-88 on Saturday night.It was Westbrooks 44th career triple-double, tying LeBron James for sixth all time in the league. It took Westbrook 605 career games; James did it in his 1,000th game.?Westbrook shot just 8-for-22 from the field after scoring at least 30 points for eight straight games. It was just the second time this year Westbrook failed to score 20.Anthony Morrow scoredd 21 points off the bench to lead the Thunder (10-8), who were playing their fourth game in six nights in four different cities.dddddddddddd Victor Oladipo added 18 while Steven Adams had 16 points and nine rebounds.It was just the fourth time in 18 games this season that Westbrook did not lead the team in scoring.Tobias Harris scored 21 points for the Pistons, who have lost five of their past seven.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '