Empty practice fields made for loud and powerful utterances at NFL facilities.
The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Washington Football Team all chose not to practice on Thursday in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin.
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“Instead, the team will use the day to discuss and work to create a lasting social impact and inspiring change in our communities,” he said. Colts said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Blake, 29, was shot dead by police on Sunday in Kenosha, 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 and protested against the incident with Blake, and racial injustice. They were on the field on Thursday, but the impact of their actions was clear over the rest of the league.
“I think if there’s a chance we all have to stop and think for maybe a minute, that’s really great,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said Thursday during a video call. “I think we have a simple saying like ‘Just listen.’ Right now, that’s all we want people to really do is listen. We understand that this is not a sprint, this is not a race;
“It’s something we just have to make sure we do a good job of getting the conversation going.”
The New Orleans Saints were among several teams that practiced, but the players wore Blake’s name on the front or crown of their helmets where they usually have their own names in camp.
“It’s just what we decided to do yesterday to honor him,” said coach Sean Payton. “It was something we felt would be appropriate, and I think they (the players) were for it.”
Jets coach Adam Gase and a few players said Wednesday that they were talking about shooting Blake and race injustice on Tuesday night. The virtual meeting included team chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson. Broad receiver Jamison Crowder and safety Bradley McDougald said the Jets were still discussing how they would handle the situation as a team. Those meetings continued Thursday in the team’s facility.
“We protected the shield,” Jets said running back Le’Veon Bell wrote in a Twitter post. “It’s time the shield protected us.”
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 in our country,” 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 Atlanta Falcons were among several other teams still training on Thursday. Coach Dan Quinn said he would speak to his players, including the team’s social justice committee, later in the day.
“We’ve always acted collectively as a group and as a team,” Quinn said. He said he would support players “whether it be action items as an opportunity to stand out as a team.”
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said players and coaches will meet more than two hours Thursday morning before deciding to practice as planned.
The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers also had practice sessions.
“Everyone has the choice to choose at what level and to what extent they want to use their platform,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “I think the biggest thing right now is to … listen to my African-American teammates and friends who are not even into football just to get a better understanding of myself.”
The protests were not limited to the NFL. The Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play in their playoff game on Wednesday, and two other games were postponed later in the day.
Three Major League Baseball matches were also postponed. Games between the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers in Milwaukee, Seattle Mariners and Padres in San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants in San Francisco were called off hours before they were set to begin.
Players and teams from the WNBA, MLS and tennis also kicked off their leagues on Wednesday night.
