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Marcus Ball: Was I Cut by the Panthers for Making a Gesture During the Anthem?
Sports Illustrated ^ | January 7, 2018 | Marcus Ball

Posted on 01/08/2018 1:57:05 PM PST by EdnaMode

I missed the call and didn’t think much of it. It was the last Tuesday in September of 2016. Two days before that—and after more than a year on the practice squad—I had just dressed for my first game for the Carolina Panthers. We lost to the Minnesota Vikings at home. But I was thrilled to have earned my right to be on the active roster.

The missed call came from the Panthers offices, which wasn’t unusual. I knew so many people there—teammates and coaches, but also regular folks in the offices— on a first-name basis. This call, though, wasn’t social. It wasn’t one of my position coaches either. There was no voicemail, but then I got a text from the same number. I was summoned to the office and told to bring my playbook.

Football is a business. We all know that. Especially guys on the practice squad. But this seemed strange. I had just been promoted and dressed for my first game. And I hadn’t done anything that anyone would consider wrong. At least not during the game.

(Excerpt) Read more at si.com ...


TOPICS: Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: carolinapanthers; marcusball; minnesota; minnesotavikings; nfl; panthers; vikings
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To: EdnaMode

Let’s see if we have this straight: this is a great job, right? I mean - most people would probably give anything to have a high-paying enjoyable job playing a game on a field, just like did when you were in school (I’m assuming you went to school).

You also knew that the boss - the guy hiring you and paying you doesn’t want any goofy demonstrations during the National Anthem (or long, nasty dreadlocks or weird tats) but you thought that it wouldn’t affect your job status.

Well, you just learned an important Life Lesson - Do what the boss tells you to.

Or you can pursue another line of work somewhere else.

Good luck.


21 posted on 01/08/2018 2:23:51 PM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: EdnaMode

“The owner doesn’t want a black player raising a finger?”

Or a white man, you slobbering moron. Stand at attention during colors and pretend you have a nanogram of class.


22 posted on 01/08/2018 2:24:06 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: EdnaMode

Boo. Hoo. If he’d kept his mouth shut and fingers to himself, he could still be raking in the big bucks. It’s tough to shoot yourself in the foot, but it’s no one’s fault but his.


23 posted on 01/08/2018 2:24:31 PM PST by txrefugee
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To: txrefugee
Boo. Hoo.



"You rang?"
24 posted on 01/08/2018 2:25:59 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: EdnaMode

Dear Dumb-ox,

All actions have equal and opposite reactions.


25 posted on 01/08/2018 2:30:00 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Note to all foreigners: Please.....GET OUT and STAY OUT!)
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To: EdnaMode

Thugs don’t fall far from the thug tree .


26 posted on 01/08/2018 2:32:47 PM PST by Lionheartusa1 ()-: There is nothing DEMOCRATIC about the democrat party ,, stop using that term :-()
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To: ChuteTheMall

Conduct unbecoming a low level practice dummy.

___________________________________________

Correct. See post 8. He was an undrafted flunkie who got cut from every team he (briefly) played for.

He only WISHES he was cut for raising a finger during the anthem. Truth is - if he was any good - he’d still be in the NFL.


27 posted on 01/08/2018 2:38:10 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (R2: Proudly intruding since 1958)
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To: Responsibility2nd

So sounds like he’s a marginal player. Meaning he has been cut and re-signed and put on practice squads and cut again, many times, unrelated to any political statements he has ever made. He’s just not that great a player.


28 posted on 01/08/2018 2:38:52 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Dilbert San Diego

That’s my take on it. He was undrafted and had a less than adequate career.

But he’s got the Race Card going for him. He’s black - the NFL owner is white.

So he claims he’s a victim of racism.


29 posted on 01/08/2018 2:41:56 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (R2: Proudly intruding since 1958)
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To: EdnaMode

Break out the violins.
No Marcus, you were cut because you were a crap player.
That’s why u were on the practice squad.


30 posted on 01/08/2018 2:42:30 PM PST by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small fee.)
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To: EdnaMode

He wants fair....Well it comes to town once a year. You get 5 rides for 20 bucks

The rest of us get where we are going based on our abilities and performance.
You ain’t owed squat!

However as a consolation prize, Obama legislated a free phone for whining losers.


31 posted on 01/08/2018 2:48:11 PM PST by VRWCarea51 (The Original 1998 Version)
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To: EdnaMode

Perhaps the Panthers were “making a gesture” that Marcus was incapable of comprehending.


32 posted on 01/08/2018 2:48:33 PM PST by windsorknot
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To: libertylover

But it (apparently) wasn’t. It was before all the widespread protests, but after that guy had started the fool-far-ah with the kneeling, i.e., last year. He was a marginal player and I imagine Richardson wanted to nip.it.in.the.bud.


33 posted on 01/08/2018 2:55:37 PM PST by ichabod1 (People don't want to believe it be what it be but it is.)
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To: HamiltonJay

So many thought it led to Tebow’s release. In fact that’s a big part of what the backlash is about, in’nit? Neros doing what Whites would get canned for with impunity. That’s what it’s all about.


34 posted on 01/08/2018 2:59:44 PM PST by ichabod1 (People don't want to believe it be what it be but it is.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

They’re just not that into him.


35 posted on 01/08/2018 3:01:58 PM PST by ichabod1 (People don't want to believe it be what it be but it is.)
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To: EdnaMode

A year on the practise squad? Now that’s impressive


36 posted on 01/08/2018 3:02:34 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Thanks for those stats. Sounds like he’s a mediocre player.


37 posted on 01/08/2018 3:15:03 PM PST by EdnaMode
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To: Responsibility2nd
Moreover, the owner is now in trouble for Racisn.
38 posted on 01/08/2018 3:15:39 PM PST by ichabod1 (People don't want to believe it be what it be but it is.)
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To: HamiltonJay

Agreed, I hate when people play the race card. I think a while player would be held to the same standards if not tougher ones.


39 posted on 01/08/2018 3:16:16 PM PST by EdnaMode
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To: EdnaMode

Standing, hand over heart, is proper. Any other gesture has to be taken as disrespect. I do think standing quietly, sans gestures, with or without hand over heart, would be accepted.


40 posted on 01/08/2018 3:22:27 PM PST by luvbach1 (I hope Trump runs roughshod over the inevitable obstuctionists, Dems, progs, libs, or RINOs!)
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