(ThyBlackMan.com) The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony was arguably the highlight of the sports weekend last weekend. There were plenty of interesting and varied personalities that took the stage to describe their journeys towards being recognized as one of the best football players and contributors in pro football history. Following the speeches, a lot of focus went to the sermon-like speech of former linebacker Ray Lewis or the unique decision by former wide receiver Terrell Owens to hold his own ceremony at his college instead of Canton with his other classmates.
However, one of the strongest statements made during the multiple speeches were not even words that were said as former wide receiver Randy Moss decided to wear a tie that displayed the names of 13 black men and women who have been killed by police over the past several years. The tie had names that included Greg Gunn, Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley, Paul O’Neal, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland, Akiel Denkins, Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Brandon Glenn. It was a surprising
decision by Moss, who wasn’t known for making social or political statements during his playing days, but it also could be a reminder that Colin Kaepernick’s impact is still being felt years after his potentially and likely last NFL game.
Despite not playing in the NFL since 2016, Colin Kaepernick’s decision and explanation to protest during the national anthem against racial inequality, mistreatment of people of color, and against police brutality still resonates. It surprisingly remains a controversial topic for the NFL and the NFL owners. The topic was given new life after the NFL decided on a new national anthem policy that requires NFL players who are on-field to “respect” the national anthem or wait in the locker room until the national anthem is over.
All NFL owners were not completely on-board with that decision and spoke out about it in various ways. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a harder stance publicly by almost ordering an edict requiring Dallas Cowboys players to act a specific way as the national anthem is played prior to games. Not surprisingly, the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott agrees with the man who is responsible for his paycheck but he made a big mistake in his supporting his NFL owner.
Dak Prescott is in a challenging place. He is not only the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, where that prestige helped lead former quarterbacks like Troy Aikman and Tony Romo to quickly find jobs as football TV analysts. He is also a black starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys so he will be asked questions regarding the NFL protests during the national anthem that white starting quarterbacks in the NFL will likely never be asked. Last month, Prescott commented regarding the NFL protests by saying, “I’d never protest, and I don’t think that’s the time or the venue to do so.
The game of football has always brought me such a peace, and I think it does the same for a lot of people. A lot of people playing the game, a lot of people watching the game, a lot of people that have any impact of the game. So when you bring such a controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game, it takes away from that. It takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people. For me, I’m all about making a chance and making a difference.” Prescott has since stood by his comments.
Since making his comments, Dak Prescott has been under criticism from players for his comments and a Dallas artist made a very strong artistic statement as well. It is okay for NFL players who are not comfortable protesting to decline to do so but criticizing the players who are protesting or the act of protesting itself will garner a lot of negative reaction because of the subject matter. Everyone isn’t cut out to protest but it is a good idea to decline to do so without undercutting others who are protesting.
Staff Writer; Mark Hines