By Jarod Ferguson ’18

Dear NFL Owners,

Recently you all voted on a new rule that would essentially make your NFL players stand for the National Anthem. Or did you?

Whatever you may have discussed at the league meetings about protesting will not prevent NFL Players from protesting. Our country was founded by people who wanted to have the freedom to express themselves. Through this new rule, you are hindering those NFL players who chose to peacefully protest the injustice that minorities face in this country. While the ratings were down for the past two years, coincidentally from when Colin Kaepernick started kneeling, it is for many reasons, and cannot be solely attributed to his action. Many NFL Players have been hurt these past two seasons, including an absurd number of your stars like Aaron Rodgers and JJ Watt. Why would anyone want to watch those teams without those integral players?

I get that you all need to protect your investment and that those conservative viewers of your teams may not watch your team if you allow kneeling, but know that for me, the kneeling went far past football. I am an African American male in this country. I am always a target for hate and I feel like I have to be perfect to avoid confrontation with the police anywhere. I am constantly alert of that and I always will be because of my race. When your NFL athletes protested the Anthem, it made me feel that people understood my pain. I did not feel alone anymore. And many who look like me – as well as those who do not – can attest to that sentiment.

The protesters are not saying that they hate America. They just want to see improvements for our wonderful country. A country where “justice for all” has been something that is not nearly as ubiquitous as some may think. Your NFL players are giving a voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless. They are not “SOB’s” like our President said. They are great men and role models, so please do not silence their voices. They are all educated and will do their best to actually make America great again. Isn’t that what we all want in the first place?

Sincerely,

A Concerned Eagles Fan