Related
PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - The NFL has announced they are open to players taking a knee during the National Anthem and are now encouraging teams to sign Colin Kapernick.
93.7 The Fan sports director Jeff Hathhorn says that fans could see NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell take a knee during the National Anthem, something unimaginable even a few weeks ago.
“That could, maybe likely will happen and think about where that stance was not long ago, it is amazing,” said Hathhorn.
Hathhorn says the commissioner represents the owners and not the players and so that means many owners are supporting the change.
“Let’s be real here too, commissioners of sports leagues are puppets for owners, they really don’t oversee the best view of everyone in the league, they definitely don’t take the player’s side on anything,” said Hathhorn.
Hathhorn adds that according to some reports, and assistant to Goodell is actively searching the league to find the perfect fit for Kapernick.
“The ultra-cynic in me would say they’re doing it because it’s the flow of public opinion right now but it is a move forward,” said Hathhorn.
Hathhorn admits that at first he didn’t understand why players didn’t just take a knee during the first play of the game instead of the anthem, but says he is learning and now sees why the players choose to take a knee.
Kapernick and other players have said they take a knee during the anthem to protest police brutality against people of color and not to disrespect the American flag.
The issue of race relations and incidents of police brutality have once again taken center stage in the country after video showed the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Hathhorn says he doesn’t believe the change would be as swift it wasn’t for the video, much like in the case against Ray Rice when footage was shown of him assaulting his then fiancee