WRs Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson knelt behind their teammates during the national anthemGETTY IMAGES
Three Dolphins players "knelt or raised their fist" during the national anthem before yesterday’s road game against the Jets, continuing to be the "only NFL team" to have players protest, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida SUN SENTINEL. WRs Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson "knelt behind their teammates" and DE Robert Quinn "raised his right fits in the air." Stills and Albert "plan to kneel all season." Stills said, "It's not going to change" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 9/17). In DC, Valerie Richardson writes all the "hoopla over the Nike ad campaign lionizing Colin Kaepernick has obscured the fact that hardly any players are kneeling this season during the national anthem" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/17). DEADLINE.com's Bruce Haring noted the NFL "may have found the perfect solution to its ongoing national anthem protesting problem -- pay it no mind" (DEADLINE.com, 9/16).
BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK: THE MMQB's Albert Breer noted Stills this week "used his time off to visit veterans with health-care needs in South Florida." There were a "lot of similar situations on Tuesday from players involved in the social-justice protests." Breer: "I don’t think it was a mistake that their actions were promoted by their teams and the league. To me it’s a sign that the union and league are finding solutions behind the scenes as they try to move the ball forward on this issue" (SI.com, 9/17). In Miami, Steve Rothaus notes Stills "received his first major award" on Thursday when LGBTQ-rights group Save named him a "Luminary Icon." Save said that the annual Luminary Awards are given to "young professionals for their contributions toward equality" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/17). ESPN's Pablo Torre noted Stills this season has been "really impressive" with his off-the-field work. Torre: "If you go and find video of him talking about why he's doing this, all of the bigger picture issues, all of the reasons -- police brutality, racial inequality -- he is incredibly, incredibly thoughtful on all of that." ESPN's Bomani Jones said one thing that "gets lost" is that Stills is out "working with veterans." Jones: "He gives you a vantage or an insight into how many things we've got going on with this issue" ("High Noon," ESPN, 9/14).
PROVIDING A VOICE: THE ATHLETIC's Lindsay Jones noted former NFLer Takeo Spikes "joined the Players Coalition for a 'Listen and Learn' day on Wednesday in Atlanta, to learn about criminal justice reform, bail reform and the systemic issues that lead to disparate incarceration rates for African-American youth in his home state of Georgia." Spikes "joined five other" former NFLers for an "intensive one-day seminar led by civil rights and legal experts." The six former NFLers from the Atlanta session will "meet again next week to continue learning about bail reform and the Players Coalition’s campaign to end cash bail" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/15). In a special for USA TODAY, Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander wrote athletes are "role models, whether they play for a professional team, in college or in high school." Alexander: "Many of us see that as an opportunity to give back to our community and serve as a voice for the voiceless. At the same time, we need to empower people to use the voice they already have." Every eligible American has a "right to make their voice heard through the voting process." Spreading that message is "something we all, as citizens, can claim as our area of expertise" (USATODAY.com, 9/16).
