Eric Christian Smith / Associated Press
Following recent player protests in several sports leagues, including the NBA, WNBA, MLS, MLB and NHL, multiple NFL players are likely to consider sitting out a game when the regular season begins.
Per NFL.com’s Jim Trotter, “a few prominent Black players” told him that “they want to sit down a game to feel their feelings and force change / action.”
Trotter described the players who consider sitting out as “tired, frustrated and emotional. “
New York Giants players Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard said Thursday that there is a possibility they could play a game this season in protest of social injustice.
“I can not really just go and speak on behalf of the whole league, but, for us, that is something where we are in our [social justice] groups, within our team, “Barkley said. What is talked about in player meetings remains in player meetings. “
Shepard said it “something we as a team will talk about “before making an official comment on the situation.
The Giants are scheduled to open the 2020 season Sept. 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium.
Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, appeared on ESPN Radio’s on Thursday Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin shows (h / t ESPN’s Dan Graziano) to say the NFL is “not live in reality ”if it did not expect its players to strike some sort of strike like the NBA and WNBA players did.
The Detroit Lions canceled Tuesday’s practice of speaking out against Jacob Blake’s police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Nine other teams canceled their training sessions Thursday in protest of Blake’s shooting.
The 2020 NFL regular season is scheduled for Sept. 10 to begin as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
