The Denver Broncos have had an interesting week, to say the least, away from the field.
Vic Fangio created a stir, saying he didn’t see racism and discrimination in the NFL. The head coach walked back that opinion when it created a bit of a storm.
Fangio also told a Zoom meeting with reporters Derek Chauvin, charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, is not a good representation of the majority of police he has met.
“I’ve been able to meet — I’ve lived in eight or nine different cities all across the country, and I’ve met a ton of police officers during that time,” Fangio said on June 2. “We have a bunch that work with us for the Broncos, and 98-99 percent of the policemen are great people that perform a great service for minimal pay and do a great job. It’s the one or two percent that haven’t been able to uphold the honor of the badge and the uniform that have gotten us into this place.
“I think the policemen are great. I think most of our players would tell you that too. But when you have a situation that has come up here recently and has happened in the past and has probably happened other times that we never hear about, they have to be rectified. Maybe now is the time that we can all work together to get that done.”
On Tuesday, safety Kareem Jackson said he hoped to have a march to protest racism and police brutality.
Following a team meeting, Jackson told reporters: “My takeaway from it was that we have to figure out what we can do, not only as a team, but as an organization. How can we get out and how we can impact the Denver community? Maybe we can get out and put together a march as a team or something like that. I feel like we have to get out in the community and be heard, just with the opportunities we have as professional athletes.”
That followed with Broncos’ boss John Elway saying he supports the cause for change in the country.
There is no question about where the players stand. Check out this impressive turnout as more than 50 players take part in a protest march Saturday.
#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/SqgUXRrM0n
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 6, 2020