Panthers WR Torrey Smith said that the #SchoolsNotPrisons shirts he and other players around the league wore on Wednesday were "meant to deliver a message rather than to be seen as a distraction," according to Jed Blackwell of the SPARTANBURG HERALD-JOURNAL. Smith: “We’re growing as an entity and trying to figure out different ways to get the message across without people trying to tie the anthem into it, or protesting or whatever it may be.” He also said that there are "more T-shirts planned, to spread awareness of different subjects" and that the Players Coalition is "seeking to have its message heard rather than to be intentionally provocative." Smith: “It’s easy when you talk about the protests during the anthem, it tends to get an emotional reaction from people to where they don’t listen to what’s going on. When you do that with a shirt, we really didn’t do anything. We went out to practice. Y’all saw it. We posted about it. And now people are talking about a particular subject. I think it was brilliant, and I think more so than anything, we want to try to continue to get the message across the right way without offending people and having them turn the message. We are trying to control the narrative.” Smith also said that Panthers Owner David Tepper had been "receptive in conversations about social justice initiatives" (SPARTANBURG HERALD-JOURNAL, 8/3).
DO THE RIGHT THING: Smith said the Players Coalition's message is "about continuing to do the right thing and continuing to press forward" and "not really about continuing the protest." Smith: "The message out there, we need to continue to figure out ways to really go about creating change. And I think that’s the process that we’re on right now." He added, “Guys who have been doing work in the community for a long time, now I think it’s more of a concentrated effort because I think guys realize the full potential and power that you have as players and influence that you have to really benefit your community” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/3).
NOT A BIG DEAL? In Charlotte, Tom Sorensen asks, "If by taking a knee a player calls attention to the issue, why is that wrong?" The knee "does not imply disrespect for the police or for the military." It is "simply a non-violent method to raise attention." Sorensen: "If you’re the NFL, the biggest sport in the U.S., why not be big enough to step aside and let it go?" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/3).
