NFL players and coaches talk Trump, chance of more protests

The Gwinnett Daily Post ^ | September 27, 2017 | CNN Staff

[2ndDivisionVet]

Three days after NFL players locked arms to protest President Trump's criticisms of those who kneel during the National Anthem, the topic remained on the minds of many around the league.

Players and coaches took podiums during the NFL's weekly media day to field questions about the protests and whether they'll demonstrate again this weekend. Trump, meanwhile, continued to hammer the league for its handling of the protests.

"The NFL is in a very bad box. You cannot have people disrespecting our national anthem, our flag, our country. And in my opinion, the NFL has to change or you know what's going to happen. In my opinion, their business is going to go to hell," Trump said outside the White House.

Here is what some players and coaches had to say Wednesday:

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin

"If an American can't air their grievances to the republic for which it stands, then where can they air their grievances? And when you have the President of our country basically saying, 'I don't want to hear your protest, I don't want to hear your grievances,' then I think that's where we have the challenge."

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman

"Our President gets into the 'we' and 'them' kind of conversations and, you know, sometimes you wonder, who's 'we' and who's 'them'?"

Sherman added, "I think when you're the President of the United States and you're talking about fellow Americans, you always have to say 'we' ... or you become divisive."

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy

The coach said he would stand with his players in locked arms ahead of the Packers' "Thursday Night Football" showdown against division rival the Chicago Bears.....

[From The Deer Stand]

Lock your arms Packers and I’m done with you after decades of fanship. The NFL isn’t a political showboat, it’s a competition to be enjoyed.

[basalt]

i love it!!...keep digging morons....please...keep digging.

[Alberta's Child]

"If an American can't air their grievances to the republic for which it stands, then where can they air their grievances?"

I didn't realize that some Uruk-hai mutant kneeling on a football field is airing any grievances to "the republic."

If you want to air your grievances, moron, write a letter to Congress.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

You think that these guys are real stupid ...and then they take it to whole new level.

[MUDDOG]

Fight da powah!

Burn da NFL t’ da groun’!

[MtnClimber]

If you go popping off communist players it would clean up the inequity and add to the numbers needed to offset communist murders of Constrictive workers.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Green Bay Packers want fans to link arms as Donald Trump reaction continues
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3589534/posts

[Alberta's Child]

Someone here on a local media website in New Jersey said these players act like they’ve dropped out of the third grade to play in the NFL.

[MuttTheHoople]

...And fans get to find better things to do Sunday.

[basalt]

Steeler fans are livid.....this Tomlin guy just should resign. This will never be forgotten...if the league even survives.

[txnativegop]

I’m thinking about renting the idiots a few back-hoes, they can dig faster that way!

[Pinkbell]

"Certainly, I respect the cause and I think what you saw last weekend was a direct result of the President's comments. Unfortunately, he put all black and minority athletes into a corner and forced them to take action... I don't blame the guys for feeling like they needed to do something as a reaction to that.

This is a stupid statement from Brees. Trump did no such thing. He complained about flag burning when it was being done by a good deal of white Antifa members. Trump is old school Americana and believes people stand for the flag and then anthem. No one is opposed to these players protesting racism, but they are opposed to them disrespecting the flag and anthem.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I predict woodworking, fishing and golfing will experience an upsurge.

[jeffersondem]

“NFL players and coaches talk Trump, chance of more protests”

I am almost afraid the players will stop destroying the NFL.

They need to knock down viewership at least another 15 percent in the next two weeks. Then a steady 3-to-5 percent decline per week.

[basalt]

i just saw that Bennett guy on CNN...hes A Seahawk...he tried so hard to even put 3 coherent sentences together...he made zero sense. So gd dumb dont even understand they are cutting their own throats..

[Lurkinanloomin]

Keep digging, once you hit China take a knee.

[packman]

If they insist on locking arms, there is still no reason they can’t put their hands over their heart when the National Anthem is sung.

Also, if they insist on kneeling, maybe they can point their hands up to heaven and pray. Sounds good to me, but I won’t hold my breath. For some reason, I feel they believe that these two examples of patriotism and religion would be politically incorrect. Really sad.

[Mustangman]

I have yet to hear what their grievances are.....beyond some vague reference to police brutality....so called (which by all stats I’ve seen has been steadily decreasing since the 1970’s).

I wonder what it will take for the players to stop kneeling? Do they even have an end game in this matter? Someone call Criminal Justice Expert Colin Kapernick and ask him what his end game is.

They have nothing. That’s the sad part. They are just whining and they don’t even know it. Everything has already changed and it all happened 40-50 years ago. It’s done. Go back to work.

[basalt]

dont worry..they are pure idiots, they’ll continue this..i hope anyway. I want this league destroyed so bad...

[Mozzafiato]

Prediction: Every NFL team will stand on Sunday. The NFL will try to make some face-saving statement about establishing a fund to deal with minority issues and donate a bunch of money. It’s their only possible escape. Another weekend like the last one would be a death blow.