Much of the non-COVID-19 discussion about the pending NFL season focuses on how the league and its players will address the social justice protests following the death of George Floyd.
More specifically: who will protest, how will they protest and how will the league respond after years of discouraging protests? There has been little discussion about who will not protest.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt took the issue head-on on Monday. He made it clear on Twitter that he will not kneel during the national anthem, citing the opportunities presented to his immigrant grandmother in the United States.
‘To hell with anyone who has a problem’
Also, I’m not kneeling down by the flag and fucking anyone who has a problem with that. My grandmother was an immigrant from the Caribbean and her age worked to bring 20 people on the right path. She had no money and was educated to be a nurse. She lives well now.
– stephon tuitt (@ DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020
Tuitt, 27, is a six-year NFL veteran who has been part of the Steelers starting lineup for five seasons. He took his stance from a leadership position in the Steelers’ locker room, a stance that doesn’t seem to align with that of another leader on the Pittsburgh defensive line.
Cam Heyward preached united front Steelers
Defensive teammate Cam Heyward, a nine-year veteran with the Steelers and team captain, said in June that if the players protest this season, they will do so with a united front.
“I think we want to stay together in what we do and what we want to achieve,” Heyward told reporters in June. “The coach has always told me that if we win the Super Bowl, that is not enough in the city of Pittsburgh.
“We want to leave lasting change among the community as well. For us, we are going to have those opportunities to expand and be individuals and affect our community. “
If some Pittsburgh players intend to protest, they will do so without Tuitt.
Stephon Tuitt’s stance doesn’t seem conducive to teammate Cam Heyward’s desire for a united front for the Steelers. (Mark Alberti / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The 2017 hymn incident looms over Steelers
The Steelers are aware of the appearance of being divided after a 2017 incident that saw left tackle and Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva take the field for the national anthem while his teammates remained in the locker room at the height of the NFL protest controversy.
The Steelers had agreed as a group not to go out on the field, and Villanueva made headlines when he was alone outside the tunnel with his hand over his heart during the anthem. Villanueva later expressed his regret over the incident and said he had no intention of throwing his “teammates under the bus.”
“Unfortunately, I accidentally threw my teammates under the bus,” Villanueva said. “We as a team try to solve it, obviously we kill it, I am not going to pretend that I have some kind of fair voice. …
“I am going to support all of my teammates, and all of my teammates and all of my coaches have always supported me.”
United front is not a realistic goal
As much as Heyward wants the Steelers to present a united front in a league that covets the team over the individual, it is not a reasonable stance to take on a team with 53 players.
The problems addressed by social justice and protests of police brutality are deeply personal and deeply emotional. Asking a 53-man locker room to reach consensus on such an individual issue for the sake of presenting a united football front is unrealistic.
Tuitt has made it clear where he is. It seems unlikely that the rest of his teammates are willing to give up their desire to protest just because Tuitt disagrees with them.
And that is fine. Not all players have to align themselves on social issues for the sake of team unity.
