Month: May 2018

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Doug Baldwin, Russell Wilson and other NFL players are speaking out against a rule approved by the league’s owners this week mandating players on the field stand for the national anthem.

Baldwin took his comments a step further, calling President Donald Trump “an idiot” in response to the president’s comments on “Fox & Friends” saying that “maybe you shouldn’t be in the country” if you don’t stand for the anthem.

Baldwin says the decision by the league’s owners is a step back from the progress made between players and the league regarding social issues and community initiatives. Teams are allowed to create their own policies, and those in charge are considering how the situation will be handled. Teams will be fined by the league if players on the field aren’t standing during the anthem.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll says “I was kind of liking the way it was going,” and now some of the control has been taken away from the coach and players.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. is leaving Tennessee as a graduate transfer.

Kirkland tweeted Thursday that “Tennessee will always hold a special place in my heart.” He added that “these moments have been priceless and I’m a better player and man from this experience.”

Kirkland graduated this month and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Kirkland made 10 starts and had 66 tackles as a freshman in 2015, but injuries limited him in 2016 and prevented him from playing at all last year . He made six starts and had 45 tackles in 2016 but missed five games with a high ankle sprain. He sat out the entire 2017 season with a knee injury.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Now that the NFL is drawing the line against players kneeling during the national anthem, athletes protesting police brutality and racial inequality may need to find a new playbook.

The question is whether they intend to escalate their protests in some way.

“The owners can try to prevent kneeling, but they open another can of worms,” said Randal Maurice Jelks, professor of African and African-American studies and history at the University of Kansas. “Imagine if players decide as a team to not come out for the national anthem. Or if one-third of the team decides not to come out.”

Hoping to quell the furor started by quarterback Colin Kaepernick two years ago, the NFL announced Wednesday that players can stay in the locker room during “The Star-Spangled Banner” but must stand if they venture onto the field. Not doing so will result in a fine against the team.

The decision was lauded by President Donald Trump, who suggested Thursday in a Fox interview that “maybe you shouldn’t be in the country” if you don’t stand for the anthem.

While NFL players who have supported kneeling in the past have not revealed their plans for this season, it is unlikely the new policy brought an end to the controversy.

“There were a lot of players who thought they could work with the league,” said Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, a social justice organization that mobilized members to boycott the NFL and its corporate sponsors last season. “Players will have to make a decision about whether they speak out. These owners are not just trying to keep the league without controversy — they’ve picked a side.”

Like protesters before them in past social movements, the players face a familiar dilemma: What to do when their public platform is taken away?

From the American Revolution through the civil rights era and, more recently, the Black Lives Matter movement, history has shown that when one avenue of protest is taken away, activists often move on to other — sometimes more disruptive — methods of protest.

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who attended the University of Nevada with Kaepernick and was among the first NFL players to join in the national anthem protests two seasons ago, said players don’t care about teams being fined.

But as for what he intends to do this season, “I guess we’ll cross that road when it comes.”

He called the president’s remarks “disgusting” and said that while he doesn’t like the league’s new policy, he understands it.

“We’ve got freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Just because somebody disagrees or has an issue with something that’s going on in this country, that doesn’t mean that they should pack up and leave,” Marshall said in response to Trump’s comments.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate said he expects the team will discuss “a solution to stand for justice in America.”

“We’ve got time to kind of brainstorm some ideas on how we could stand for justice and what we can do,” Tate said.

During the Black Lives Movement, activists held protests that disrupted major thoroughfares and other public spaces across the country, then expanded their focus to local elections and working with the Obama Justice Department to bring about police reforms.

DeRay Mckesson, who began protesting as part of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014 and has continued to push for police reforms, said NFL players now find themselves in a similar position, and he hopes they fight the new policy.

“The attempt is always to silence and erase,” he said. “The point of protest is to bring public awareness to things people want to keep private.”

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Holland reported from Washington. AP sports writers Arnie Stapleton in Denver, Noah Trister in Detroit and John Wawrow in Buffalo, N.Y., contributed to this report.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed first-round draft pick Vita Vea and second-round selection Carlton Davis to four-year contracts.

The deals were announced Thursday. They leave Tampa Bay with one unsigned draft pick, second-round running back Ronald Jones.

Vea, a 347-pound defensive tackle out of Washington, was the 12th pick in last month’s draft. Davis, a cornerback from Auburn, was the last of three players the Bucs selected in the second round — No. 63 overall.

Both players are expected to compete for starting jobs as rookies.

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With no deadlines to meet and a monthlong summer break coming up, NFL teams are in no hurry to formulate a policy on demonstrations during the national anthem.

One day after league owners mandated that players must stand for the “Star-Spangled Banner” — they now have the option of remaining in the locker room for the playing of the anthem — few of the 32 teams had done more than preliminary work on the issue.

The NFL gave teams the option of developing their own workplace rules, which many players interpreted as a backhanded way of subjecting them to fines, suspensions or loss of jobs should they carry on with the protests.

For now, other than New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson’s decision to pay any fines doled out by the league without passing punishment to the players, each franchise’s approach is uncertain.

After all, once mandatory minicamps end in mid-June, teams don’t get together again until training camps open in late July. The opening preseason game — the first time the anthem would be played before an NFL match — is Aug. 2 when Baltimore and Chicago face off in the Hall of Fame game.

“I’m sure it’s something that will be addressed, by the players and by the coaches, collectively,” Lions receiver Golden Tate said Thursday.

“But right now, we don’t play a game until August, and that’s when it’s going to be applicable in football stadiums. So we’ve got time to kind of brainstorm some ideas on how we could stand for justice and what we can do.”

What some teams have done in the past likely indicates how they will handle disciplining players for demonstrations during the anthem — regardless of the intent. Owners Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and Robert McNair of the Texans have been among the staunchest advocates of no exceptions to standing during the anthem.

Others have taken a less stringent stance, emphasizing working together with the players in their communities rather than focusing on how the message about social injustice is being delivered.

“I have always believed it is the responsibility of sports teams to be very proactive in our communities,” says Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

“In this great country of ours, there are so many people who are hurting and marginalized, which is why I am proud of our players for continuously working to influence positive change. Their words and actions have demonstrated not only that they have a great deal of respect for our country, but also that they are committed to finding productive ways to fight social injustice, poverty and other societal issues that are important to all of us.

“We must continue to work together in creative and dynamic ways to make our communities stronger and better, with equal opportunities for all.”

One certain thing: The uncertainty about how each team will deal with players who defy the NFL’s mandate will last for weeks.

Not so for any league personnel such as game officials, sideline crews, et al. They will be disciplined for any violations of the anthem policy, though the exact punishments have not yet been determined by the NFL.

One organization, the National Action Network, will march on league headquarters Friday to “advocate for players’ right to kneel and call on NFL owners to reverse (the) dangerous decision violating players’ First Amendment rights by imposing fines for not standing during the national anthem.”

Such protests could become more prevalent if teams decide to strongly discipline players who demonstrate during the anthem. But some franchises aren’t sure they need their own policy. Or if that is even the proper description.

The Falcons’ position is any players on the field will stand, so no need to make plans for any other outcome.

Team spokesman Brian Cearns suggested it’s too strong to say they have a team policy: “The word policy sounds like it was mandated. It was discussed as a team and agreed upon as a team,” Cearns said in an email to The Associated Press.

Defensive linemen Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett knelt during an early season game at Detroit last year. Coach Dan Quinn said that was a “one-off” and, sure enough, after that game all players stood together on the sideline, with arms interlocked, the remainder of the season.

Buffalo linebacker Lorenzo Alexander doesn’t expect his team “to do anything.”

“I understand where they’re at. And it’s hard,” Alexander said. “And I understand that from a business perspective trying to be socially responsible. And people can act like it’s in a vacuum and say you have to pick a side. But it’s not that simple. It’s a very complex situation.

“And so I respect them, because I was a business owner and I understand it. It makes a big impact. I’m in this to grow the business, grow their brand, and us doing this does have an impact, whether we say it or not. That’s what we want, because we’re trying to bring attention to it. But they have to have a foot over here, a foot over here. It’s hard.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton and Sports Writers Charles Odum, Paul Newberry, John Wawrow and Noah Trister contributed.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed second-round draft pick Breeland Speaks to his four-year rookie contract Thursday, making him the third of their six draft selections to sign a deal.

Kansas City did not have a first-round pick this year after trading it away last year to move up and select quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. So, new general manager Brett Veach waited until the 46th overall pick to grab Speaks, who is expected to bolster the Chiefs’ weak pass rush this season.

Speaks played three seasons at Mississippi, where he had 121 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. But the Chiefs hope his production will increase now that he can focus on outside linebacker.

The Chiefs needed help there even before parting with veteran Tamba Hali this offseason.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco laughed at the notion that he holds a grudge against first-round draft pick Lamar Jackson.

“We welcomed Lamar here with open arms,” Flacco said.

The two quarterbacks appeared amiable as they rotated snaps, along with Robert Griffin III, in workouts this week. Flacco was clearly the most polished of the three, zipping passes downfield with almost pinpoint accuracy.

Nonetheless, it is shaping up to be an important season for the veteran Flacco.

He has been assured that he will remain the starter in 2018 but also must consider how his future will be influenced by the presence of the rookie Jackson.

“Obviously, when you pick a quarterback, when you pick anybody in the first round, it means something,” Flacco said. “I don’t know what that means. I don’t know exactly what it is. That’s not my job to worry about what it is. My job is to keep my approach exactly what it’s been the last 10 years and help my team win football games.”

Flacco, 32 threw for 3,141 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2017. Baltimore’s passing attack was ranked 29th in the NFL, and that played a key part in the team missing the playoffs for a third straight year.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome signed three free agent receivers — Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead — to help improve the passing game. He also selected a pair of tight ends — Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews — in the first three rounds of this year’s draft.

The Ravens also took Jackson with the 32nd overall pick. He ran for 50 touchdowns and threw for 69 more during an impressive three-run at Louisville.

While Jackson needs more time to develop into effective passer, he is a dynamic athlete that could push for playing time, especially inside the red zone. Flacco, however, is not worried about Jackson taking snaps from him.

“Listen, I want to win football games,” Flacco said. “Whatever’s going to help us win. I’m probably going to maintain that myself under center is our best chance to win football games. But whatever helps us win football games, I’m game.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh has been impressed with Jackson over the recent offseason workouts.

“He is a very talented guy,” Harbaugh said. “He has practiced well everytime he has been out here. The toughest thing for him right now is calling the plays. He has never been in that type of system. So, I would say he has made a big jump calling the plays and annunciating the offense.”

Harbaugh is not worried about having any type of quarterback controversy on his hands. He dismissed any potential friction between Flacco, Jackson and even Griffin.

“It was much ado about nothing,” Harbaugh said. “I never thought it was anything and I know it’s not anything.”

As for Flacco, he is just concerned about getting the Ravens back on track and ending the postseason drought. He welcomes anyone ready to contribute to that goal.

“I’m worried about right now, myself getting these guys ready to win football games,” Flacco said. “Nothing is ever promised to us. That’s the reality.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is joining an effort for nonprofit organizations to support healthy lifestyle programs for veterans and their families.

The league will contribute $2 million to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which was established in 2006 after the television journalist was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq.

The foundation has invested more than $55 million for programs that empower the military and their families. The NFL will work with the Woodruff group in creating a grant referral system for nonprofits.

Anna Isaacson, the NFL senior vice president of social responsibility, says the league is committed to “evolving its work in the military landscape and funding programs that will make a tangible, long-lasting impact.”

One of those programs is Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a nationwide nonprofit that provides rehabilitative fly fishing programs for disabled active duty personnel and for disabled veterans. It has 8,500 participants and another 3,500 volunteers who teach disabled veterans the intricacies of fly fishing and stages events locally, regionally and nationally.

“The BWF provides us with a grant each year that supports one of our largest programs for rod building,” says Todd Desgrosseilliers, president and CEO of Project Healing Waters who spent 31 years in the military and sustained traumatic head injuries in combat. “We had over 900 veterans participate in it thanks to that. It’s part of a larger core of activities we have that include fly fishing education and outings.

“We meet on a regular basis, whether weekly or twice or month, with a minimum of once a month. This is a group of disabled veterans coming together with folks who care about them, and involved in an activity that is fun and therapeutic.”

An affiliation with the NFL is logical, says Marshall Lauck, chief growth and marketing officer for the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

“The NFL is such a prominent American brand and one that has a longstanding commitment to the vet community,” Lauck says. “This is not something new to them, given their history with supporting veterans and the active military. It’s a time of increased interest on their part in how most effectively they can support the veteran community (through nonprofits).

“Our expertise can be very helpful for the NFL in its goals in supporting the veteran communities.”

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