Posted on 09/10/2016 1:41:26 PM PDT by xzins
Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson had planned to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 on the field this Sunday.
He had cleats specially designed in their honor.
The NFL has threatened to fine Williamson for wearing the cleats on the field, but two police union chiefs have vowed to pay the fine.
Now, Williamson has caved to pressure from the No Fun League.
He will not wear the cleats on Sunday.
From Tennesseean:
The NFL squashed Titans starting linebacker Avery Williamsons plan to use fancy footwear to honor those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Williamson was going to wear custom patriotic cleats during the Titans home opener against the Vikings on Sunday, the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but those plans changed when a league representative called to inform him about a looming fine for violating uniform code.
I dont want to draw negative attention, so Im just going to focus on playing the game, Williamson told The Tennessean on Friday. Once I heard from them, I didnt even try to argue anything. I just left it alone. I didnt want to press the issue.
The star-spangled blue cleats with red- and white-striped Nike swooshes were airbrushed by True Blue Customs in Lexington, Ky. They feature the words Never Forget and 9/11 on the back of each shoe, with the 11 representing the Twin Towers. The NFL mandates all teammates wear the same color scheme on their shoes.
Williamson is instead auctioning the cleats to benefit Operation Warrior Wishes, plus offering a meet and greet, two VIP tickets to a Titans home game and an autographed jersey.
Im going to try to get a couple of veterans to come to a game, Williamson said. I feel like just reaching out to people, helping them, somebody thats served our country, I feel like thats a great honor, so I wanted to do something nice for them. I feel like its a great cause.
Help #Honor911🇺🇸Holding auction for @Wishes4Warriors with a meet/greet,tickets+cleats
READ: https://t.co/OprfEiKcvZ pic.twitter.com/EeUkew3NeA
Avery Williamson (@AWilliamson54) September 8, 2016
Of course the NFL is upset a player wishes to honor 9/11, but has little problem with players sitting for the National Anthem.
It’s clear the NFL is anti-American ... but it doesn’t matter. The NFL is confident that hundreds of thousands of fans will continue to support the growing number of players who s[p]it on America ... so why change? (Although a name-change is clearly in order — the BLMFL ... entirely non-political, of course!)
“I dont want to draw negative attention, so Im just going to focus on playing the game, Williamson told The Tennessean on Friday.”
My, my, a man on the right side of the issue choosing to do the right thing. Hooda thunkit?
Remember the infamous controversy with Jim McMahon and the Adidas headband back in 1985?
Are kill the pigs socks part of acceptable gear?
I think it’s time for American Football fans to quit watching the games for at least a month. Americans pay a heck of a lot of money to attend games...let the stadium stand empty...let the sponsors of whatever beer, food, etc
quit sponsoring for a month and then let the NFL and their
“special” ways play their games. The NFL isn’t brain dead, they do not like America or Americans. They like only our
money.
Do YOU think they should wear it?
Wear what — the pig socks or the 9/11 cleats?
I hope he auctions the cleats off for charity.
The NFL needs to hear from the fans.
No NFL for me ever again. The days of Lombardi are long gone and so am I as a fan and viewer.
Wow, quite the lineup for the ever-more-radical NFL.
Destroy the NFL to save America!!
That’s what he plans to do — it’s in the article, heh heh.
As long as people keep sending their money to the NFL, rap (ugh) “music” and Hollywood, they’ll keep on having the money and the power that comes with it to influence weak-minded Americans.
Let’s “Target” them!
Uh.....what is the NFL? I quit watching some time ago
I’m glad I stopped wasting my time watching the NFL a long time ago. Killing policeman is okay. Just don’t dare trying to honor the victims of 9-11. Besides, next month they’ll all be wearing pink cleats to make everyone aware of women’s breasts. What a bunch of sicko bastards. Goodell is a bigger punk than most of the players.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.