The Vikings-Panthers matchup in Charlotte yesterday was a "game day like no other," as police in riot gear and uniformed National Guard members "stood watch as protesters converged on Bank of America Stadium on the sixth day of protests" over a fatal police-involved shooting, according to a front-page piece by Peralta, Douglas & Harrison of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Several dozen people chanted "Black Lives Matter" and "No justice, no peace," in front of the stadium an hour before kickoff. Police said that one man was "arrested for carrying a concealed weapon near the stadium." However, the "overall atmosphere calmed enough that city leaders lifted the midnight curfew that had been in place since Thursday." Fans seemed to "crave a return to normalcy." Exact figures "were not available, but the stadium, which seats roughly 73,000," appeared about 80% full. That would be the "lightest home-game crowd in about two years." Panthers QB Cam Newton "wore a shirt during warmups that read 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,' a quote made famous by Martin Luther King Jr." Panthers S Marcus Ball "held his fist high in the air during the National Anthem" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/26). ESPN's Michael Eaves noted CMPD got a notification late Saturday that protesters were going to try and "disrupt the access to the stadium by both the teams, officials and even some of the fans" ("NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition," ESPN, 9/25).
STAND TOGETHER: Panthers S Tre Boston said that his hope is that he and his teammates "find a way to show their stance against the social injustice in America as a team -- not as individuals." ESPN.com's David Newton noted Boston hopes that they will "find a way to do that" in time for next week's road game against the Falcons. Boston: "We're going to find a way so that nobody can twist what we are trying to do, nobody can misinterpret the direction we want to go with our protest. We want to find a way that everybody is included, so nobody can say, 'You left out this person'" (ESPN.com, 9/25). Boston said that Panthers GM Dave Gettleman and the coaches "were on board, but that the plan came together only on Saturday afternoon, with not enough time to execute it" yesterday. He added that some players "didn't feel comfortable speaking out, for various reasons ... and needed to be coaxed" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/26). In Charlotte, Katherine Peralta notes Ball is the Panthers' only player to make an "overt public gesture" following the fatal shooting last week (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/26).
WAS TEAM DISTRACTED? In Greensboro, Ed Hardin notes the Panthers, who lost their first home game in nearly two years, were a "distracted team playing in a distracted city." Hardin: "This game should have never been played. It just wasn't right, and it had nothing to do with football. ... After everything it went through this week, the city deserved a week off" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 9/26). Fox' Ronde Barber said, "They're all affected by it. They're players here and this is their job, but they're also members of this community so they all have opinions, they've all made them be known" ("Fox NFL Kickoff," Fox, 9/25). NFL Network's Michael Robinson said, "It's tough, it's definitely a distraction. ... There's only so many hours during the week that you have to prepare." He added, "Some of the guys on the team had to go home and explain these situations to their kids. You hear (LB) Thomas Davis talk about this and how this is going to be a distraction" ("NFL Gameday First," NFL Network, 9/25). Panthers coach Ron Rivera said, "For the most part we were able to focus. The guys have done a good job. When they are here they're focusing on football." ESPN's Trent Dilfer: "A lot of times the challenge of preparing with all that's going around and you're mourning for the people of your hometown, that challenge can become a good thing, too" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 9/25). NFL Network's Shaun O'Hara: "It's challenging. I think as a player, everybody is compassionate toward the cause" ("NFL Gameday First," NFL Network, 9/25).
