It’s safe to say NFL players, coaches, managers and owners have never come together in support of a cause like they have for the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
For the most part, even commissioner Roger Goodell has received props for quickly reacting favourably to a player’s video last Thursday with one of his own the next day.
“Without black players there would be no National Football League,” he said. “And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff.
“We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter.”
Sounds good? Not to the President.
Two days, five hours and 23 minutes after Goodell’s message was posted on Twitter, Donald Trump addressed it on his social media account.
That’s right — at 11:54 p.m. Sunday, when most very busy 73-year-old men should be getting some sleep.
“Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?”
Somewhere, Drew Brees had to be shaking his head.
Is it remotely possible that in response to this Trump tweet, ALL players will now kneel when the anthem is played before games?
And coaches?
And fans?
SECOND AND SO LONG
Could this be a problem? In a memo Sunday, Goodell informed all teams of the standards that have been developed for the opening of team facilities, with a focus on player, staff and family education; facility preparation and maintenance, including disinfection and hygiene standards … In a story on SI.com, it was written that the NFL has floated the idea of starting training camps as soon as mid-July, which is another positive except for the one small detail that the new CBA states players are to report 47 before days before the first game, which for most is July 28 … Oh yeah, a bigger hitch is the memo sent to the players by the NFLPA on Monday. “Some of you have been contacted by your clubs about coming back into the facility to workout, or rehab, citing a memo from the NFL. We write to inform you that we do NOT have an agreement to allow additional players to come back into the facilities at this point, and the League’s memo was sent to Clubs without the approval of your union. We advise that you stay home and stay safe during this time as we continue to work through return-to-work protocols to keep you safe.” … Yeah, it looks like it could be a problem, but it won’t be. Right?
A CONTRACT IS A CONTRACT
Sometimes, Michael Irvin says some pretty silly things. Like with his support of Dak Prescott, who is coming off his best season (4,902 yards, 30 TDs) and is now about to get the biggest raise in NFL history. In his first four seasons, the Cowboys’ QB made less than $5 million, total, but in 2020 he’ll play for $3.1.4 million — unless the exclusive franchise tag he’s on gets ripped up and he signs an extension for more before July 15. “Dak has been not great, but perfect,” Irving told the Dallas Morning News. “Not necessarily in wins and losses, of course, but I’m talking about just the person that he’s been. The kind of investment you want to make, the kind of guy you say ‘yeah, we hit it with this guy, we got him in the fourth round.’ You stole four years, so whatever he gets he deserves because you still owe him back pay.” The day players should start getting “back pay” is the day they start giving pay back to the team when they underperform … Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey told the Devin and Jason McCorty podcast it was like “a blow to the heart” when the Titans traded him last month without telling him directly. Casey had been a loyal employee for nine seasons, even re-signing in 2017 after Tennessee was 2-14 in 2014 and 3-13 in 2015. The Titans rebound with four straight 9-7 seasons, and in 2019 had their longest post-season since 2002, making it to the AFC Championship game before losing 35-24 to the Chiefs. “My mindset was to stick it out and things would get better,” said Casey. “For us to get to that point, to get better and to be a main focus of that, and then you just throw me away to the trash like I wasn’t a main block of that …. coming off an injury the year before and playing the whole season for y’all. No complaints, I did everything you wanted me to do and you throw me like a piece of trash. At the end of the day, none of these businesses are loyal.” That’s pro sports. Casey is 30 and did have the lowest solo tackles total (26) of his career last season. The Titans freed up $11 million in cap space by moving him. And he’ll likely end up getting the last laugh when the Broncos are better than the Titans this season.
EXTRA POINTS
Cowboys first rounder CeeDee Lamb isn’t just setting his sights high, he’s has them at the next level. Asked about his career goals by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the former Sooners wide receiver replied: “(To) be a Hall of Famer. Have as much of an impact or more that Michael had on the game and on America’s Team. I want to be on a team that makes unbelievable memories together. I feel like that is what we are going to do here. I can’t wait.” Lamb was going to wear No. 10 until he talked with Irvin, who convinced him to wear 88 like other great Dallas pass catchers such as himself, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant. “That is a legendary number of the legendary America’s Team. For me to go out there and represent the great legends that have worn that number is a huge presentable moment. I can’t wait to live it out for the first time. I want to continue the legacy of 88. The 88 club is something big in Dallas. I want to live up to it.” … The Vikings released a statement on Monday that said 60 of their front office workers are back at the office.
dbrennan@postmedia.com
