The Detroit Lions became the first professional team in the United States Tuesday to cancel practices to address and take a united stand against police brutality. This coming in the wake of Jacob Blake, and unarmed black man, who was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha, Wisconsin police over the weekend which sparked a fresh wave of protests.
Lions players and coaches stepped out in front of the Allen Park training facility to address the media and sign a giant white board that read “We Won’t be Silent!!” and “the World can’t go on”.
Lions head coach Matt Patricia stated, “I didn’t really feel right about going into practice and running some football drill without talking to my team”.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford added, “Been a lot of days in my life that I’ve been proud to be a Detroit Lion and a quarterback in the NFL, one of 32 guys that gets to do what I get to do on a daily basis, and part of a team that gets to go out and play games on Sundays and play in front of crowds, win games and do all that — but never more of an offseason, and really a day like today, that I’ve been more proud to be a part of this team and a member of NFL and do what I do”. Stafford – who is entering his 12th season with the Lions – also recently donated $1.5 million dollars to a social justice initiative according to Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com.
Now of course there’s going to be plenty of chuds chiming in and lambasting the actions and show of unity the Lions displayed today. Those same reactionary shit heads will go on about how Jacob Blake sHoUld HaVe JuSt CoMpLiEd or how the Lions should just “stick to football” which we’ve already addressed the absurdities surrounding that statement before. Quite frankly, the people who have a problem with his are those same types who “just want to use sports to get away from everyday life” which is essentially a dog whistle for clowns who simply can’t be bothered with racial injustices because they’re either privileged enough that they don’t have to deal with it themselves or they’re actually tried and true bigots.
Anyways, this was a good and commendable move by the Lions and we applaud it because there’s shit in this World that’s simply bigger and more important than football. And people need to realize that.
