Several NFL players yesterday demonstrated during the playing of the National Anthem prior to Week 1 games, but the day passed “without the widespread protests that some league officials had anticipated," according to Rebecca Davis O’Brien of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Chiefs players “locked arms during the anthem,” and CB Marcus Peters also “raised his right fist in the air.” Dolphins RB Arian Foster, WR Kenny Stills, S Michael Thomas and LB Jelani Jenkins "knelt during the national anthem" before their game against the Seahawks, while the Seahawks "stood with arms linked." Seahawks CB Jeremy Lane knelt during the anthem at a preseason game, but he "stood for the anthem" yesterday (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/12). ESPN.com's Adam Teicher noted it "appeared Foster did not raise his fist as planned." Foster said that he has "had conversations recently" with 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, who last month started this wave of player activism. Peters on Friday said that he was "behind Kaepernick '100 percent,'" a stance he reiterated after yesterday's game. Meanwhile, Patriots TE Martellus Bennett and S Devin McCourty "waited until the completion of the anthem to raise fists prior to their game" last night against the Cardinals. McCourty: "I believe in this country. I love this country. My father was in the Army. My older brother was in the Army. Those men and women go out there and put their life on the line. I respect that. That's the reason why I didn't do anything during the national anthem because I respect it" (ESPN.com, 9/11). THE MMQB's Robert Klemko yesterday morning cited sources as saying that there were more than 70 NFL players "in an ongoing group chat at the moment, discussing and debating what Kaep started and what to do" prior to yesterday's games. The group includes Foster, Bennett and his brother, Seahawks DE Michael Bennett and Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, among others (TWITTER.com, 9/11).
FOSTER-ING A DISCUSSION: In West Palm Beach, Joe Schad notes Foster "led a Dolphins discussion in the days before the game." Stills said, "We talked as a team. And a couple of individuals on the team felt like because of what’s going on in this country, we wanted to make a statement by taking a knee and putting our hands over our chest" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/12). In Miami, Adam Beasley notes Foster's decision to protest was a "reversal of his thinking from two weeks ago." He said on Aug. 28 that he understood why Kaepernick "sat during the anthem, but wouldn’t personally follow Kaepernick’s tactics" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/12). Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Dave George writes the response of the four protesting Dolphins "gave the impression that America is so far out of whack that it does not deserve to be honored, even symbolically." He wrote taking their stance yesterday on 9/11 is "so damaging to anything that the players involved mean to represent" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/12).
ALL FOR ONE: Baldwin said of the Seahawks linking arms was "unifying our team but also it’s unifying our stadium." He said, "It’s unifying our communities. It’s unifying our state. And hopefully it’s going to unify our country to where there’s a message that needs to be heard." In Tacoma, Gregg Bell notes Baldwin’s postgame point was the Seahawks are "showing unity, and then acting." Baldwin said that the players are "in the process of meeting with Seattle mayor Ed Murray and with police chiefs across the state of Washington" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/12). Sherman said, "Gestures mean nothing without follow-through. People get confused that you gotta go out there and make this gesture and then make people aware of it -- but we’re more about action" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/12). CBS' Evan Washburn noted this is "part of a larger conversation this entire Seahawks organization has had for a number of months" and is "not in direct response to Colin Kaepernick’s stance on the anthem." That included a meeting with Dr. Harry Edwards, the "well-known sociologist that has been at the forefront of race relations and the role sports has in them." Washburn: "Edwards’ message to the Seahawks: ‘The difference between a movement and a mob is follow-through.’ That’s what they thought they’d do with this stance right before anthem” (“Dolphins-Seahawks” CBS, 9/11).
CALLING AN AUDIBLE: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted the Seahawks' actions were "not the original plan" for the team. Rapoport: "What they were going to do was all kneel together with their hands over their hearts. The problem is there were a couple of players who are particularly close with the military." Players like TE Jimmy Graham have "taken tours with the military," as they "just did not feel comfortable doing that on September 11." Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin "has told people, if all 46 men on the active roster are not doing the same thing we are not doing it" ("NFL GameDay First," NFL Network, 9/11). NFL Network's Brian Billick prior to the game said, "They’re handling it perfectly. I think [coach] Pete Carroll is doing exactly the right thing in a very difficult circumstance. ... I like what they’re doing with it. I think it will set a good example because it approaches it from a team aspect” (“NFL GameDay First,” NFL Network, 9/11).
ATTENTION TO ISSUES: Chiefs WR Chris Conley said that the idea of the entire team linking arms was to "make a galvanizing statement that they stand for those who serve our country even while making the nuanced distinction that they wish not to protest, but to call attention to issues -- a notion they plan to back up by engaging initiatives to help mend relationships between authorities and the community" (K.C. STAR, 9/12). In Kansas City, Terez Paylor notes Peters "wore black gloves, something he did intermittently at times last year." A Chiefs spokesperson said that several players had been "contemplating the implications of a demonstration all week" (K.C. STAR, 9/12).
GOING BACK TO ITS ROOTS: ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said Kaepernick has "single-handedly created more conversation about this issue than everything else that has happened combined." Greenberg: "It has forced people who would like to ignore the issue to have to pay attention to it.” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said, "I’m interested to see how he maybe modifies his presentation tonight so the focus gets off of him and how he's protesting and the focus becomes on what he's protesting about” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 9/12).
