As more and more NFL players speak up against racial injustice in America and the fight against police brutality, the subject of kneeling during the national anthem has resurfaced.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently said in a Yahoo Finance interview he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag,” referencing players who have been kneeling since 2016. Those comments created a cacophony of criticism. Players from around the league called out Brees for his misrepresentation of the social and racial injustice protests and he’s since apologized, but now many are looking for the NFL to take a definitive stance.
Former Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis went so far as to ask NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to publically apologize to every player who protested police brutality by kneeling and change policies that keep players from speaking out about issues they are passionate about.
The public apology would be a nice gesture for all the players that endured incredible backlash and loss of money for kneeling since Colin Kaepernick started the movement in 2016. Kaepernick remains unsigned to this day, safety Eric Reid almost went unsigned after kneeling with Kaepernick and is currently a free agent, linebacker Brandon Marshall lost an endorsement for kneeling and cornerback Antonio Cromartie said the Colts cut him for kneeling.
That loss of revenue for players is exactly why Revis wants the NFL to change its policies surrounding activism. The number of players who knelt during the national anthem dropped to only three players in 2019 – Panthers safety Eric Reid, Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills and Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson – likely because others worried for their financial future.
The NFL has taken minute steps toward remedying these problems. The league recently committed $20 million to its Inspire Change Initiative as a means to support the movement against racial injustice and Goodell released a video on Friday formally condemning racism and the systematic oppression of black people and even admitted the league was wrong for not listening to players earlier. He added that he would “encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest” and said he planned on reaching out to players “who have raised their voices” to learn how to help.
Though not explicitly the apology Revis requested, Goodell’s video was a response to the emotional video released by several high-profile players, including current Jets safety Jamal Adams, that called for the NFL to take action against racial injustice.
Though Revis never knelt for the anthem, he and many other NFL players see the need for player activism. Sports stars across the world have spoken out and protested with many other Americans in a public, personal forum.
What Goodell and the NFL did is a good start, but there is still a long way to go before these issues – both in the league and the world – are solved.