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New York Jets personnel clear practice equipment after practice was canceled at the NFL football team’s training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The New York Jets canceled their practice in an apparent response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. | Adam Hunger, Associated Press
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Empty practice fields made for loud and powerful statements at facilities across the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Washington Football Team all chose to not practice Thursday in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin.
“Instead, the team will use the day to discuss and work toward making a lasting social impact and inspiring change in our communities,” the Colts said in a statement posted on Twitter.
pic.twitter.com/SZlH4eQDvb
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 27, 2020
Blake, 29, was shot by police, apparently in the back, on Sunday in Kenosha as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice.
It will take all of us. pic.twitter.com/hHMKIAyT70
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 27, 2020
The Detroit Lions canceled their practice Tuesday, protesting the incident involving Blake, and racial injustice. They were on the field Thursday, but the impact of their actions was clear across the rest of the league.
“I think that if there’s any chance that we got everybody to maybe stop and think for a minute, that’s really great,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said Thursday during a video call. “I think we have a simple saying as ‘Just listen.’ Right now, that’s all we want people to really do is listen. We understand that this isn’t a sprint, it’s not a race; it’s a marathon.
“It’s something that we just have to make sure we do a good job of continuing the conversation.”
The New Orleans Saints were among several teams that practiced, but the players wore Blake’s name on the front or crown of their helmets where they usually have their own names during camp.
“It’s just something we decided to do last night to honor him,” coach Sean Payton said. “It was something we felt would be appropriate, and I think they (the players) were for it.”
David Grunfeld/The Advocate via AP, Pool
Wearing the name of Jacob Blake on their helmets, New Orleans Saints quarterbacks Taysom Hill (7) and Drew Brees talk during an NFL football training camp practice inside the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.
Jets coach Adam Gase and a few players said Wednesday they spoke about the shooting of Blake and racial injustice on Tuesday night. The virtual meeting included team chairman and CEO Christopher …read more
Source:: Deseret News – Sports News
