The world of technology has changed how we communicate, and how things happen, and it is hitting the NFL. Robert Klemko tweeted that a discussion is currently underway involving over 70+ players about Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem protest.
1. I'm told there are 70+ NFL vets in an ongoing group chat at the moment, discussing and debating what Kaep started and what to do today.
— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) September 11, 2016
2. Group includes Sherman, Kaepernick, Bennett brothers, Arian Foster, many more. Made possible by technology.
— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) September 11, 2016
Kaepernick started this, but we have seen it develop over the past two weeks. Eric Reid and Jeremy Lane joined him a week and a half ago. Megan Rapinoe and others outside the NFL got involved. And now the Seahawks are playing to interlock arms in a pre-game “demonstration of unity.” Ian Rapoport tweeted that some players had wanted to take a knee and put their hand over their heart during the Anthem, but some players disagreed, and this was the compromise.
The first set of kickoffs are in less than an hour, with nine games getting underway. There will be three more in a few hours, and then Sunday Night Football tonight. I’m fascinated to see how this situation develops among the players. We did not see much in the preseason finale, but the discussion has intensified considerably since then. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, so that adds further intrigue to the situation.