NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disagrees with Colin Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the national anthem, but recognizes the quarterback’s right to protest.

Asked by the AP about Kaepernick’s decision not to stand before games when the national anthem is played, Goodell said in an e-mail Wednesday: ‘‘I don’t necessarily agree with what he is doing.’’

‘‘I support our players when they want to see change in society, and we don’t live in a perfect society,’’ Goodell added. ‘‘On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism in the NFL. I personally believe very strongly in that.’’

Goodell added that NFL players having a visible platform for their viewpoints. With that comes responsibility to use those platforms properly.

‘‘We have to choose respectful ways of doing that so that we can achieve the outcomes we ultimately want and do it with the values and ideals that make our country great,’’ said Goodell, whose late father, Charles, was a United States senator.

‘‘I think it’s important to have respect for our country, for our flag, for the people who make our country better; for law enforcement; and for our military who are out fighting for our freedoms and our ideals.’’

The 49ers quarterback wouldn’t stand for the anthem at the team’s preseason games, with teammate Eric Reid and the Seahawks’ Jeremy Lane doing the same. Kaepernick has cited racial injustice and police brutality among the many reasons for his actions and said he plans to continue to not stand for the anthem during the regular season.

Kaepernick said Wednesday on his Instagram account that he will donate all the money he receives from his jersey sales to charity to thank fans for their support. He said he’s pleased his 49ers jersey has become the top seller in the NFL since his protest became public.

Meanwhile, US hockey coach John Tortorella said he’d bench any player who stays seated during the national anthem. Tortorella, who will coach the United States at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, told ESPN, ‘‘If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game.’’

Brees gets new deal from Saints

Saints quarterback Drew Brees agreed to a new contract that will keep him in New Orleans through the 2017 season, and a person familiar with the deal said it guarantees Brees $44.3 million over the next two years.

The deal also provides the Saints with nearly $13 million in additional spending flexibility under the 2016 salary cap as the team continues to shuffle the roster.

Earlier this summer, Brees had stated that he believes he can play at an elite level at least another five years.

‘‘I wanted the contract to reflect that, naturally, and have it be the last contract that I signed,’’ Brees said. ‘‘But it was in the best interest of the team to make it a little bit shorter. And I think that just made everyone a bit more comfortable and it still put us in a very good position to go out and do the things we need to do to continue to build the team and put us in the best position to succeed. And that to me was the most important thing.’’

The contract runs for five years, starting this season, and includes a $30 million bonus that, for now, can be prorated over that period, reducing the $30 million that Brees’s old contract would have counted against the Saints’ salary cap this season down to a little more than $17 million. The deal also has a no-trade clause, but the final three seasons are voidable, meaning the Saints and Brees, who turns 38 in January, will have to revisit the possibility of another extension next year.

Also, the Saints agreed to bring back veteran right guard Jahri Evans, who had been released by the Saints last winter and signed with Seattle, but did not make the Seahawks’ final cut.

Zimmer won’t say

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer wants to keep the Titans guessing about who will start at quarterback when the teams meet in the season opener on Sunday.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey thinks he has a pretty good idea who will be under center.

Zimmer declined to announce a starter on Wednesday, saying he will see how veteran backup Shaun Hill and recently acquired Sam Bradford perform in practice this week before making a decision. And even after he does decide, the coach said he would not reveal the answer until just before kickoff in Nashville.

‘‘I thought we’d run the single wing this week,’’ Zimmer deadpanned.

Bradford was acquired in a trade from Philadelphia last Saturday to give the Vikings another option after starter Teddy Bridgewater went down with a major knee injury in practice last week.

The Vikings gave the Eagles a first-round draft pick and a conditional fourth-round pick that could be even higher depending on where the Vikings finish in 2016. That kind of investment leads Mularkey to believe that the Titans will be seeing Bradford start the opener.

‘‘He’s a very intelligent quarterback and he’s faced this defense before,’’ Mularkey said. ‘‘They wouldn’t give up a 1 and a 4 to have a guy sit very long. I just think that he gives them a very good chance.’’

Sanders extended by Broncos

Emmanuel Sanders and the Broncos agreed on a three-year, $33 million contract extension on the eve of their season opener. Sanders has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Denver, amassing 2,529 yards and 15 touchdowns on 177 catches and earning consecutive Pro Bowl honors. He had 10 receptions for 147 yards in the playoffs during the Broncos’ Super Bowl run . . . The Bears locked up star right guard Kyle Long, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, with a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2021 season. ‘‘I’ve known since Day 1 that I wanted to be a Chicago Bear for life,’’ said Long, who had two years remaining on his contract . . . Bills offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson will appeal his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy after testing positive for marijuana, saying he used it to relieve the effects of Crohn’s disease . . . Former Colts kicker Cary Blanchard died Tuesday at age 47. Mindi Blanchard confirmed her ex-husband’s death. She said Cary died unexpectedly of what she believes was a massive heart attack, but added that an autopsy has not been performed.