Pete Carroll on players possibly refusing to take the field over social justice issues: “Anything’s possible”

[gmf1369]

The Seahawks had a mock game on Wednesday. Some players sat during the national anthem played before the game. After the game, coach Pete Carroll addressed the shooting of Jacob Blake, which has sparked widespread outrage and protest in the sports community.

“This whole thing is ridiculous, and anybody that doesn’t recognize that just isn’t paying attention,” Carroll said.

So could teams decide to not take the field during the 2020 season?

“Anything’s possible,” Carroll said. “I mentioned to the players this is the year — the protest season. It’s the season of protesting. And we’ll handle ourselves as we do. This is a protest that doesn’t have an end to it until all the problems go away. And we solve the issues and stuff. So we’re gonna do our part and continue to work to stay actively involved, and continue to stay in touch with the situations that are going on by staying on the topics and with it just in hopes that we can be there to help and support where we can and have influence where we can.”

For NFL teams, the power to protest becomes most relevant during the anthem, but there are indications that it will spread more broadly than that. From the Lions shutting down practice on Tuesday to whatever may happen with practices and games going forward, NFL players are using both their words and their actions to solve the problem of police brutality against minorities. As NBA players become even more aggressive in their words and actions, NFL players may decide to follow suit.

Pete Carroll on players possibly refusing to take the field over social justice issues: "Anything's possible"

The Seahawks had a mock game on Wednesday.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[McJet]

Please, please forfeit every game, please.

 

[TebowCan'tThrow]

At this point I don't care what these athletes do.

 

[TNJet]

At this point I don't care what these athletes do.

Amen, they can go #$%^ themselves.

 

[LIJETFAN]

They have every right to take a stand and use the platform they have. If they want to forfeit their pay in the interest of promoting racial and social justice, more power to them. If you can't understand that you have my pity.

 

[beresford]

They have every right to take a stand and use the platform they have. If they want to forfeit their pay in the interest of promoting racial and social justice, more power to them. If you can't understand that you have my pity.

OTOH they are employees. I don't know what your line of employment is, but my employer would have had short shrift with me if I announced that I wasn't going to do my job today because of social justice issues he had no control over. I don't know why somebody would think it necessary to shoot someone in the back seven times from pointblank range but I do know that the Wisconsin police force is nothing to do with me or my country (Britain). We have been subjected to George Floyd mania over here for months now, every sporting event has to have a BLM tribute and our history is being rewritten to a white bad black good narrative. Presumably woke athletes will be falling over themselves to bring these boycotts over here as well.

 

[LIJETFAN]

OTOH they are employees. I don't know what your line of employment is, but my employer would have had short shrift with me if I announced that I wasn't going to do my job today because of social justice issues he had no control over. I don't know why somebody would think it necessary to shoot someone in the back seven times from pointblank range but I do know that the Wisconsin police force is nothing to do with me or my country (Britain). We have been subjected to George Floyd mania over here for months now, every sporting event has to have a BLM tribute and our history is being rewritten to a white bad black good narrative. Presumably woke athletes will be falling over themselves to bring these boycotts over here as well.

I'm not in a position to comment on what is going on in the UK or any other country for that matter. I'm not there.

With respect to your employment comment - yes, the employers, i.e. owners may take issue with it. I'm sure the athletes are well aware of that fact. That's their choice. They are not indentured servants. If they want to breach their contracts, the remedy is the courts. That's how it works. And if enough of the players take a stand, the likelihood of litigation by the owners to enforce those contracts becomes virtually zero. They would have no product to put on the field, so it would be counter-productive.

Where you are incorrect is the notion that they have no control over the outcome. By taking a stance, they are exercising the power they do have to influence societal and regulatory change. Influencing the outcome is a measure of control.

 

[butterscotch]

They have every right to take a stand and use the platform they have. If they want to forfeit their pay in the interest of promoting racial and social justice, more power to them. If you can't understand that you have my pity.

Hate to say this but we don't live in a perfect world!!!!!!! They have a right I agree but I am getting tired of the NFL. I hope they cancel this year

 

[butterscotch]

OTOH they are employees. I don't know what your line of employment is, but my employer would have had short shrift with me if I announced that I wasn't going to do my job today because of social justice issues he had no control over. I don't know why somebody would think it necessary to shoot someone in the back seven times from pointblank range but I do know that the Wisconsin police force is nothing to do with me or my country (Britain). We have been subjected to George Floyd mania over here for months now, every sporting event has to have a BLM tribute and our history is being rewritten to a white bad black good narrative. Presumably woke athletes will be falling over themselves to bring these boycotts over here as well.

Great post!!!!!!!!

 

[butterscotch]

Are they going to protest the Trump supporter that was killed the other night & the kids that are killed in Chicago the last few months...... lets get real

 

[LIJETFAN]

Hate to say this but we don't live in a perfect world!!!!!!! They have a right I agree but I am getting tired of the NFL. I hope they cancel this year

We don't live in a perfect world. But does that mean people should stop trying to change it for the better? And the NFL is not the only league doing this - the NBA is as well. Not sure I follow your logic butterscotch.

 

[butterscotch]

We don't live in a perfect world. But does that mean people should stop trying to change it for the better? And the NFL is not the only league doing this - the NBA is as well. Not sure I follow your logic butterscotch.

IMO they should all go away...sports sucks big time now. The Virus is our war right now. We need to change the world for the better not worse.

 

[Old#15]

Saw that CDC last week provided clarification on the deaths attributed to COVID 19. Apparently approx. 90% of the deaths previously reported have at least two co-morbidity factors, and 6% due solely to C-19. In other words, people who died with a combination of COVID 19 plus at least two serious health issues like heart disease, obesity, pulmonary (lung related) disease, etc. were considered to be COVID 19 deaths. This plus the fact that almost 92% of all deaths are in the 55 and older age group tells me that the players are not in danger for the most part. The older coaches, staff people perhaps are, but if reasonably healthy maybe not. I'd also be curious to know the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with the recent spikes on college campuses. I'm not saying we shouldn't be concerned, but I do think this is overblown.

 

[butterscotch]

Saw that CDC last week provided clarification on the deaths attributed to COVID 19. Apparently approx. 90% of the deaths previously reported have at least two co-morbidity factors, and 6% due solely to C-19. In other words, people who died with a combination of COVID 19 plus at least two serious health issues like heart disease, obesity, pulmonary (lung related) disease, etc. were considered to be COVID 19 deaths. This plus the fact that almost 92% of all deaths are in the 55 and older age group tells me that the players are not in danger for the most part. The older coaches, staff people perhaps are, but if reasonably healthy maybe not. I'd also be curious to know the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with the recent spikes on college campuses. I'm not saying we shouldn't be concerned, but I do think this is overblown.

most people that die from a heart attack have heart problems first. Same with other issues. Just because you die at 85 from Covid does not mean that you would not have lived to 95 without it. Plus we don't know what the future holds for people that survive it. With us we have one family member dead from it, one family friend dead from it & my brother may have had a Covid stroke & as many people know the freezer truck business was doing very well. As of now it does seem to not bother the young folks as much. BUT this can change so we will have to wait & see.

Overblown depends on who think what, Also, how many kids/adults that are watching will say look it is safe & stop wearing a mask or going to parties or staying six feet away or showing up to work when not feeling well.

This is one ugly virus but it could get much worse. The next one may make this look like a walk in the park. Stay safe my friends.

 

[Old#15]

I don't mean to callous to your losses, they are indeed horrible. The point of my post was that sports and school should continue because the vast majority will not suffer serious consequences even if they become infected by the virus.

One other thing, I noticed in the CDC data was that from 2013 - 2018 an average of 184,000 people died per year from pneumonia. (BTW - the numbers are far less in 2019 and 2020). Why is/was there no cries of pandemic for pneumonia?

 

[butterscotch]

I don't mean to callous to your losses, they are indeed horrible. The point of my post was that sports and school should continue because the vast majority will not suffer serious consequences even if they become infected by the virus.

One other thing, I noticed in the CDC data was that from 2013 - 2018 an average of 184,000 people died per year from pneumonia. (BTW - the numbers are far less in 2019 and 2020). Why is/was there no cries of pandemic for pneumonia?

You were not callous at all. I agree as far as Pneumonia & others but remember in March we were not sure if it would be millions or 675,000 at that time. We had to do some things so we would have time to find out what we were facing. In 1918 there was a bad Polio outbreak too that is not talked about. It was real bad but the Flu was so much worse.

When the crocodile hunter held his baby out in front of the crocs people were horrified. But i said what are the odds of Irwin having a heart attack at 36 years of age & dropping his son in the mouth of the croc. What got me is all the kids down south that saw a kid next to a croc & may want to go up & pet one. That was the danger in my eyes.
Same here more people will say if the players won't get sick I won't too. IMO.

This thing can also change on a dime. There is a reason why some players are saying they don't want to play.

Ok big picture what will this virus do down the road? Will it make you stronger or weaker????? We don't know.

Plus all those people that died in a year!!!! We are still in the first six months of this thing? & what happens if you get the Flu & the virus together, I worked with some people retired from a major PD a few years ago. what we came up with ...well......scare the H___ out of you.

But I will give you one thought......How about two of these things at one time. A bird flu & a virus.

The 1918 Flu did not go away until the mid 50's who knows what this one will do????

IMO I am tired of sports I have not missed anything. I can't stand the players & what they do. Yes not all of them but many.

It is unfair...that is life if you were in WW II on a beach would you say life is unfair or get up & move on.

My two cents.......As far as School It may be safe but time will tell

 

[LIJETFAN]

I'm very sorry for your losses Butterscotch. That's horrible and tragic. I can understand your frustration at the way things are going right now.
My only comment would be this - our society has many issues - I personally believe that standing up for social justice is a worthy cause. I don't believe that these athletes are complaining that life is unfair, or that their pain is worse than yours or anyone's. I hope we all come through this better as a society.

 

[cheaterhater]

the Jets have sucked for 50 years. how about we protest that. it wont do any good.

I don't see where this protesting will do any good either. especialy with all the violent crap going on.

if someone doesnt like another race. first off that is ridiculous because there is no sane reason to dislike an entire other race, but if someone doesnt like another race, people protesting isnt going to change their mind. sadly, I don't know what would

personally, I like anyone who is nice , regardless of what color they are, and I dislike people who are trash no mater what race they belong to

for me, players sitting out practice and kneeling for the anthem, really makes no sense and kind of ticks me off. but hey, thats just me and other people feel differently so to each his own, but I really just don't get it and I really dont discriminate against anyone but brady and belichick

 

[cheaterhater]

as for covid, seeing what happened in NYC should scare everyone, shouldn't it? without covid, how many of those people die?

 

[LIJETFAN]

Protesting is not the ends, it is only one of the means to the end. That is to say - it is a way to voice your opinion to effectuate change. Unless you possess a substantial amount of wealth or hold political office or you are extremely well connected to those in political power, the options to initiate change are limited. Protests are one of those means. How effective they are is a different question.

Jet fans have protested over the years - and it has worked. Billboards, planes flying over practice, avoiding purchasing Jets products, selling season tickets or dropping them all together - all forms of protest, just on a smaller scale. Protests take many forms. These athletes are protesting in a way that their platform affords.