Fecteau: Trump vs. the NFL
Matt Fecteau, GoLocalProv Guest MINDSETTER™
Fecteau: Trump vs. the NFL
Mr. Trump is in no position to criticize anyone’s freedom of speech, especially with his controversial and colorful history. This is the very individual who criticized a federal judge, Mr. Gonzalo Curiel, for his Mexican heritage (a comment even U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan called racist). This is the same Mr. Trump that talked about a Muslim Ban during his presidential campaign to an applauding crowd of predominantly white, raucous individuals, and the infamous Mr. Trump that is intent on building a wall to keep the Mexicans out.
I would like to have seen this level of condemnation from Mr. Trump when Nazis were violently protesting in Charlottesville. Mr. Trump forcefully censures those that peacefully protest by kneeling, but had to be prodded by Congress into even making a written statement condemning Nazis. Condemning Nazis should be the easiest part of his job!
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThese specific NFL players are arguably honoring our country and doing a public service; standing up for those that feel the system is stacked against them. These peaceful NFL protests are highlighting an injustice, not through violent means (like in Charlottesville), but by a simple, yet powerfully humbling gesture — kneeling.
We need to work together to look for real solutions and stop beating up (cough, Mr. Trump, cough) on those that exercise their rights to shed light on pervasive racial inequality in a peaceful way. You may disagree with the protestors, but at least they are trying to send a message through non-violent means. This is what our flag truly embodies — freedom; the freedom to disagree, but more importantly, the freedom to protest, and freedom to stand up (or kneel) for your beliefs.
The 17 Patriots Players Who Knelt During National Anthem
Name: Devin McCourty
Position: Safety
College: Rutgers
Hometown: Nanuet, N.Y.
Salary: $47,500,000 Over 5 Years
Name: Malcolm Butler
Position: Cornerback
College: West Alabama
Hometown: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Salary: $3.91 Million for 2017 Season
Name: Stephon Gilmore
Position: Cornerback
College: South Carolina
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Salary: $65,000,000 Over 5 Years
Name: Brandin Cooks
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Oregon State
Hometown: Stockton, California
Salary: $8,383,452 Over 4 Years
Name: Dont'a Hightower
Position: Linebacker
College: Alabama
Hometown: Lewisburg, Tennessee
Salary: $35,500,000 Over 4 Years
Name: Lawrence Guy
Position: Defensive Line
College: Arizona State
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Salary: $13,400,000 Over 4 Years
Name: Johnson Bademosi
Position: Cornerback
College: Stanford
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $4,500,000 Over 2 Years
Name: Alan Branch
Position: Defensive Line
College: Michigan
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Salary: $8,450,000 Over 2 Years
Name: Brandon King
Position: Safety
College: Auburn
Hometown: Alabaster, Alabama
Salary: $615,000 for 2017 Season
Name: Malcom Brown
Position: Defensive Line
College: Texas
Hometown: Brenham, Texas
Salary: $7,613,229 Over 4 Years
Name: Deatrich Wise
Position: Defensive End
College: Arkansas
Hometown: Suffolk, VA
Salary: $2,975,883 Over 4 Years
Name: Adam Butler
Position: Defensive Line
College: Vanderbilt
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
Salary: $1,665,000 Over 3 Years
Name: Trey Flowers
Position: Defensive Line
College: Arkansas
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
Salary: $2,838,932 Over 4 Years
Name: Elandon Roberts
Position: Linebacker
College: Houston
Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
Salary: $2,440,356 Over 4 Years
Name: James White
Position: Running Back
College: Wisconsin
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Salary: $12,000,000 Over 3 Years
Name: Duran Harmon
Position: Safety
College: Rutgers
Hometown: Magnolia, Delaware
Salary: $17,000,000 Over 4 years
Name: Jordan Richards
Position: Safety
College: Stanford
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Salary: $3,711,548 Over 4 Years
