Lions Owner Martha Firestone Ford has presented a way to handle player protests during the national anthem that other teams and owners should "take note of," according to ESPN's Max Kellerman. Ford last month "went to the players respectfully and she said, ‘I would really like you all to stand. I will put my money where my mouth is and donate to the issues that you guys think are important.’" Kellerman argues Ford "asking them to stand in exchange for laying out some cash for the issues they believe in" should not be seen as "co-opting or preventing progress." Kellerman: "It is the kind of listening and cooperation and doing that should be important to everyone. That is the way owners individually can respond to their players in a way that's productive, and I think people can support that.” ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said Ford's approach is a "profound way" to address the issue. Smith: "Now we're talking problem-solving. We are talking about an owner that is working in concert with players to directly address the issues the players believe are detrimentally affecting their respective communities. When you're doing something like that, I don't think that there's anything negative about that." Smith said Ford also is making players "accountable for the protests." Smith: "In other words, ‘What exactly are you protesting about? Tell me.’ Now they have to step up and provide answers" ("First Take," ESPN, 11/7). ESPN's Lisa Salters noted eight Lions players, including RB Ameer Abdullah, had been kneeling prior to Ford's request. Abdullah and Lions RB Theo Riddick said that they have had "several meetings with Ford since and that she's keeping her word." There are "plans in the works to keep the ball rolling forward with the issue," but the players "didn't want to get into specifics just yet" ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 11/6).
SILENT, BUT NOT QUIET: In Detroit, Dave Birkett reports Abdullah prior to last night's "MNF" game against the Packers "raised his fist" during the anthem, something he claims to have done "since the Lions' Week 5 loss" to the Panthers. He indicated that he will "continue to fight racial inequality by demonstrating silently during the song" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/7).
