Wisdom From A Hall Of Fame Football Player

I was almost ready to give up football this year–I don’t like politics brought into my sports. As the wife of a military veteran, I respect our flag and national anthem. I was resigning myself to high school football this year (one of my granddaughters plays in the high school marching band) so it wouldn’t be too bad.. Well, I may change my mind. Jim Brown, a Hall of Fame running back for the Cleveland Browns, had a chat with the Cleveland Browns after some of them knelt during the national anthem.

The Independent Journal Review posted the story today.

The article reports:

Last week, 12 Cleveland Browns players chose to follow Colin Kaepernick‘s example and kneel during the National Anthem in protest before their game against the New York Giants.

However, on Saturday before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, every single player and coach stood in respect.

When play-by-play commentator Jim Donovan noticed that they were all standing, his partner, Doug Dieken, gave full credit to Jim Brown who had met with the players right before the game.

Jim Brown, Hall of Fame running back, reportedly told them, “Do not disrespect the flag, do not disrespect your country.”

The article also reported the statement Jim Brown made last week regarding Colin Kaepernick:

“Colin has to make up his mind whether he’s truly an activist or rather he’s a football player. Football is commercial. You have owners. You have fans. And you want to honor that if you’re making that kind of money.

If you have a cause, I think you should organize it and present it in a manner where it’s not only you sitting on one knee, but a lot of people that are going to get behind each other and do something about it.

Let me ask you one question: Who is Colin calling on to follow what he’s talking about?

I would advise the young man, if you’re a football player, play football. If you’re going to be a real activist, use your money, use your notoriety.

You have to understand there’s intelligence that’s involved, OK? I can’t be two things at once that contradict each other. If I sign for money, then the people I sign with, they have rules and regulations.”

“I’m going to give you the real deal: I’m an American. I don’t desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I’m not gonna do anything against the flag and national anthem.

I’m going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I’ll work out the problems, but I’ll do it in an intelligent manner.”

“Colin has to make up his mind whether he’s truly an activist or rather he’s a football player. Football is commercial. You have owners. You have fans. And you want to honor that if you’re making that kind of money.

If you have a cause, I think you should organize it and present it in a manner where it’s not only you sitting on one knee, but a lot of people that are going to get behind each other and do something about it.

Let me ask you one question: Who is Colin calling on to follow what he’s talking about?

I would advise the young man, if you’re a football player, play football. If you’re going to be a real activist, use your money, use your notoriety.

You have to understand there’s intelligence that’s involved, OK? I can’t be two things at once that contradict each other. If I sign for money, then the people I sign with, they have rules and regulations.”

“I’m going to give you the real deal: I’m an American. I don’t desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I’m not gonna do anything against the flag and national anthem.

I’m going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I’ll work out the problems, but I’ll do it in an intelligent manner.”

Hopefully we have some current players in the NFL with the courage to speak out against disrespecting our national anthem.