Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald # 11 (C) of the Arizona Cardinals stands with teammates during an NFL team training camp at University of State Farm Stadium on August 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals canceled all team activities Thursday after calling a team meeting to discuss how they could move forward after the Jacob Blake police shooting in Wisconsin.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team had a “gloomy” meeting before sending players home to use their time to reflect and strive for changes in social direction.
The cancellation came after Sunday night’s police shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wisc. A shooting of Protestants left two dead days later escalated the talks and unrest over racism in the United States alone, leading to major sports leagues boycotting Wednesday night games.
Owner Michael Bidwill, general manager Steve Keim, defense coordinator Vance Joseph and Kingsbury decided to cancel the team’s activities on Thursday before meeting with players, the head coach said.
“I think we as an organization discussed with Michael and Steve and (Vance Joseph) and a lot of people what the right thing was for us and this was the decision where we came from,” Kingsbury said. ‘What happened to Jacob Blake was terrible and it needs to stop. I know it sounds hollow at times because you hear the same things over and over again, but we wanted to make sure our players knew we were supporting them …
‘There are times when football takes a backseat. We felt this was one of those moments as an organization. ”
Joseph, who is black, addressed the team before he could take players home.
As planned, Arizona will hold its Red & White scrimmage Friday at 9:30 p.m., Kingsbury added.
Cardinals who recalled Kenyan Drake wrote on Twitter that the team “got today to train and reflect on who we are as individuals and where we as human beings need to move forward.”
With Arizona’s Red & White scrimmage scheduled for Friday, the team had already expected to have limited field activities on Thursday. The Cardinals had closed State Farm Stadium to reporters earlier in the week.
The Cardinals also canceled a day of work earlier in the off-season in the wake of George Floyd’s police shooting.
Talks between the cardinals about how to move forward came after NBA, MLB, WNBA and MLS teams boycotted games on Wednesday night. Thursday morning, other NFL teams with previous practices canceled them out.
The New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Football Team and Green Bay Packers all canceled practices in an apparent response to Blake’s shooting in Kenosha, Wisc.
Blake, 29, was shot Sunday by police officers, apparently in the back, as he bent over in his SUV, three of his children were sitting inside. The shooting was recorded on mobile video and new protests erupted in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer hit a nationwide bill over racial injustice.
The Detroit Lions canceled their practice Tuesday, protesting against the Blake incident and racial injustice.
De Colts posted a statement on Twitter, saying they would not keep their planned workout.
“Instead, the team will use the day to discuss and work to create a lasting social impact and inspiring change in our communities,” the statement said.
On Wednesday night is the Washington Football Team announced it would not hold its practice in her home stadium on Thursday afternoon. It would be broadcast live on local radio and at night on television.
“Instead of our practice at FedEx Field, the players, coaches and football staff will meet as a football family and we will continue our open dialogue on the issues of racism and social injustice abroad,” coach Ron Rivera said in the statement.
Washington, who recently dropped his long name Redskins, hired Jason Wright last week as the first Black Team president in NFL history.
The Packers also announced Thursday that they would not keep their planned practice.
The Atlanta Falcons were among teams still practicing. Coach Dan Quinn said he would speak to players later Thursday, including the team’s social justice committee.
Blake’s shooting was followed by protests in Wisconsin, one of which turned deadly.
A white, 17-year-old police resident was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot dead during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the shooting of Blake police.
Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Ill., About 15 miles from Kenosha, was arrested in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional manslaughter in Tuesday’s attack that was largely recorded on mobile video. The shooting left a third person injured.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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