Tag: George Floyd killing

Former Jets WR Brandon Marshall regrets not kneeling

Former Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall regrets not kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

Former Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall is “ashamed” that he did not do more to take a stand against social and racial injustices in the United States during his career.

Marshall, who played for New York from 2015-16, elected to not join Colin Kaepernick in taking a knee during the national anthem to bring attention to injustices toward black people and minorities in 2016. While appearing on I Am Athlete, Marshall expressed his regret for not kneeling and why he ultimately decided not to.

“The first thing that came to my mind, and I’m just being honest, was: ‘I got a mom that don’t work. I got a sister with four kids that don’t work and I’ve been taking care of for 10 years. If I take this knee, what will happen?’ And I remember feeling so broken and so hurt that that was the first thing that hit my mind. ‘Do I kneel for the entire community, or do I stand for my mom, my brother my sister?’ And looking back on it, I am ashamed that I didn’t take that knee. But I am so excited now about with the video that just came out with the NFL players, because now I feel like they don’t have to make that decision. They don’t have to think about that anymore. If they want to take a knee, you think Nike’s going to drop them?”

Marshall did not remain completely silent on the issue, as he discussed it with team leaders such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie in an effort to keep Gang Green’s locker room united. However, Marshall never kneeled during the anthem.

Marshall’s comments come in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin, who has been charged with second-degree murder.

Floyd’s killing has prompted protests across the United States calling for an end to police brutality against black people and minorities. It has also brought the kneeling protests started by Kaepernick back to the forefront of conversation in the NFL with the 2020 season approaching.

Photo of former Jets player mistakenly shown at George Floyd’s funeral

George Floyd’s funeral featured a photo of a former Jets defensive back who shared his namesake.

A montage at George Floyd’s funeral mistakenly featured a picture of a former Jets player.

Former New York defensive back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee George Floyd, 59, appeared in the photo montage during the funeral for the 46-year-old with the same name who was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin. The funeral took place in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.

The football-playing Floyd’s photo was erroneously broadcasted on multiple news networks, including NBC New York’s YouTube stream of the funeral and BBC’s News at Ten bulletin. The former Jet was a fourth-round pick in 1982 and played in 15 NFL games for New York.

“During our report on George Floyd’s funeral last night, we showed images from a montage of still photographs which had been played as part of his funeral service,” BBC said in a statement. “One of the photos we used, which we had taken directly from this montage, depicted the New York Jets player George Floyd. We don’t know why that particular image was used in the service, but we subsequently used it as part of our own coverage of the service. We’re still looking into exactly what happened. The BBC would never seek to cause any offense.”

Floyd’s killing has sparked global outrage and protests across the United States calling for an end to social and racial injustices against African Americans and other minorities. Chauvin has been fired and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence. The three other officers on the scene have been fired and charged as well. Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng were charged with felony aiding and abetting.