Speaking with the Associated Press, the NFL Commissioner said he embraced players taking a stand for change, but wasn’t thrilled with how Kaepernick chose to protest.
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At the same time, Goodell walked a fine line, sounding like a politician – his later father, Charles Goodell, was a USA senator from NY – as he pandered to any potentially aggrieved black players, who make up 68 percent of the NFL. We’ve seen social activism in the National Basketball Association, so it would not surprise me to see some players joining in. On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism in the NFL.
Goodell told the AP players have a “responsibility” to use their visible platforms for their viewpoints properly. “And we can make this country better, and that they believe I was someone who could help that change”.
Colin Kaepernick on Wednesday thanked the public for making his jersey the NFL’s top seller after his national anthem protest and vowed to donate all the proceeds he receives “back into the communities”.
O’Neal joined Fox News Channel’s Fox and Friends co-hosts on Wednesday to weigh in on Kaepernick’s controversial protest, saying their are other ways to get your point across. Kaepernick modified his protest during “Salute the Military Night” last week by kneeling rather than sitting and he plans to continue to kneel when the 49ers open their season Monday night.
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry recently took part in a wide ranging interview with CNBC’s Sarah Eisen.
Kaepernick said on his Instagram page on Wednesday that the support showed “the people’s belief that we can achieve justice and equality for all”. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.
Kaepernick’s famous number 7 jerseys have flown off the shelves since his protest of the Star-Spangled Banner – so much so that it has since skyrocketed to number one on the NFL’s official website.
Despite some initial push back from some fans who posted images of themselves burning Colin Kaepernick memorabilia, the quarterback’s protest of the national anthem and treatment of “black people and people of color” has sparked an outpouring of support – and merchandise sales.
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“I’m not anti-American. I love America”, said Kaepernick after his team’s most recent preseason game. The world needs to see people coming together versus being individuals..
