Colin Kaepernick took a stance against police brutality when he decided to protest during the national anthem several years ago. By kneeling during The Star-Spangled Banner, Kaepernick (a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback) made waves throughout the country, forcing NFL fans to consider issues of racism and police brutality while attempting to enjoy a game of football.
Despite his talents as a quarterback, NFL teams have refused to hire Kaepernick for years because of the controversy surrounding him. However, following George Floyd’s murder last year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has changed his tune and is now expressing remorse that he didn’t listen to Colin Kaepernick’s protests when they started all those years ago.
“I wish we had listened earlier, Kaep, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to,” on Sunday, Goodell was interviewed by former NFL player Emmanuel Acho on his YouTube program “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.”
“What our players are doing is being mischaracterized,” Goodell said. “What they were trying to do is exercise their right to bring attention to something that needs to get fixed. That misrepresentation of who they were and what they were doing was the thing that really gnawed at me.”
The NFL is attempting to make the game more inclusive and friendly to all Americans, with the help of Goodell. The Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, are having difficulty dealing with this issue. While team owner Jerry Jones has tried to reach an agreement regarding the protests and kneeling during the national anthem, his son refuses to accept Kaepernick’s victory.
The Dallas Fort Worth Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones has made it clear that he does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps or even Goodell in supporting Colin Kaepernick.
On Thursday, Stephen Jones made it clear that he did not approve of Goodell’s U-turn and that he would continue to defend his conservative principles.
“I’m not going to comment on that at this point. Obviously, everybody, I have respect for what everybody has to say about any of these situations. Everybody has their own way of getting their hands around it. It’s obviously a big challenge. As I said, every organization, every office, every place looks at it a little differently, including whether you’re the NFL or you’re an individual club. Everybody has their views on different things. So, certainly, have respect for everybody’s opinions and views, but probably as far as I’d go with that.”
During the next few weeks and months, the Cowboys will have a tough time. Jones and his father will need to come to terms with the shifting football tide or miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime as the rest of America join the Black Lives Matter movement.
What do you think about the Dallas Cowboys’ approach to the topic? Do you agree with Stephen Jones or Jerry Jones that it’s time for a change? What would you suggest as a means to make football more inclusive?
