oldmanfan

That would answer the anthem debate. But not the issue at hand which has so many players and the black community so upset.

Then watch the game and look at the flag while standing during the anthem. You might also want to stop and think about what they are kneeling for.

And again the protest does not stop you from doing so. The game is played after the anthem.

Don’t know. If they thought so they’d probably have chosen that earlier.

The point folks are making is no one is listening. So while I see your point something before a game is likely not to be seen or heard.

Their kneeling does not stop anyone from watching football.

I would support 5 minutes before the game. Statements, silent reflection. Something like that. But I don’t think that will make a loud enough statement.

Kneeling on the guy’s neck. When you have a guy down and he doesn’t have a pulse and you keep kneeling on him was a Whoa! Moment. So I started talking to folks I know that are black, and my kids’ friends. And they all tell me of how they have had moments when they are treated differently or pulled over for no reason. All stuff I probably knew but never really thought about. And I guess the final one involved my one daughter who is adopted from China. Her best friend was adopted the same day, went into a grocery store, and was told we don’t wait on your kind. Different ethnicity, same kind of prejudice. It has to stop. It seriously has to stop. So I’ll stand. But I’ll support folks protesting. And I’ll keep supporting the police who have an impossible job but get screwed by the few who abuse their authority.

Then leave. Honest to God, this gets ridiculous. When it all started with Keap he went to a decorated Green Beret for advice and was told that would be the honorable way to approach it. I know some vets who are against it, I know some vets who say that is exactly why they fought, to protect the rights of people. I stand for the anthem, I will continue to do so. But I also get why black players are protesting because the events of the past few weeks have finally opened the eyes of this 64 year old white man that things have got to change. You want to leave, go ahead. If a protest for the 2 minutes for the anthem is going to ruin a football game or team, good for you. But if you’ve ever been at a game talking to a friend or in the restroom during the anthem you’re a hypocrite. And if you can’t see that it’s finally time to see that things need to change maybe you’re something else.

I will say I spent 6 years in Georgia in the 80’s early in my career, and I joined a country club recommended to me by some at the hospital. Played there for two years, and would usually just go play 9 by myself, didn’t socialize there or play in weekend tournaments and such. I mentioned it in passing one day to one of the nurses in the clinic and she was like: “Doctor I’m shocked you would belong there. You know it’s an all white club and they don’t allow blacks?” Quit the next day. Still can’t believe hospital execs recommended it to me, or that they were members. If Fromm grew up with that mentality, it could explain some things.

I don't get fooled by anyone.

The problem in most issues facing our country right now is that no one is willing to recognize that there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Compromise used to be a good thing and now it is looked upon as some kind of evil. I walked in a protest walk in my town the other day. I did so because we have got to come together as a society. There are not many black individuals in my city, but those that I know well and am proud to call my friends have shared experiences of how they are pulled over routinely for traffic stops in our town, when they have done nothing wrong. My daughters have seen the same thing with their friends. I know one young black man who was the star of the high school musical, he was the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, and he got hassled by some because he was a black kid playing that role. The black community has a lot they have to work on themselves, but as a 64 year old white guy who has never had to deal with the crap many black men and women deal with, I felt it was time to show my support and actually listen to what's going on out there. And it was the experience of a friend of my daughter, who like my daughter is adopted and of Asian heritage, that finally convinced me I can't just sit on the sidelines. Her friend went into a grocery store to run an errand, asked a white clerk for help, and the white clerk told her that she can't wait on people like her. If it had been my daughter, I can't begin to think what I would have done; getting her fired would have been the first step. Different minority, but similar prejudice. So I walked. And I was the oldest person there. And the mostly kids I was walking with chanted, but were respectful and the folks along the route downtown were as well. And as I walked, I made sure to thank each police officer I met along the route for the horrifically difficult job they do each and everyday protecting me and my family and my community. As did a number of the young folks. it is a time to stop and think, a time to discuss calmly and rationally, a time to recognize and value peaceful protest while recognizing looters and rioters and scum like the guy that shot the Las Vegas officer in the back of the head deserve the maximum punishment, a time for police forces and unions to acknowledge they have some guys that should not be wearing the badge and that hen they break the law they too should be held accountable. It is a time for us to all listen to the other guy and put ourselves in his or her shoes.

It's asinine for any city to disband their police force. I am a big believer in law and order, and I am solidly behind the police men and women that put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. But getting rid of bad apples that stain the work of the vast majority? Retraining to perhaps emphasize de-escalation vs. confrontation? Sure. And while we're doing that, time for the leaders in the black community to take on the killing of blacks by blacks. That is a tragedy in need of resolution.

Fromm is a fairly young kid that said something really stupid. His relative youth should not be a shield to excuse it, rather it should emphasize the need for him to keep quiet and lean from his mistakes. Leaders in the clubhouse, or guys like Zo who are still associated with the team, will no doubt sit down with the kid and explain why his comments were so stupid. And he'll learn or he won't. If he doesn't his football career is over.

I recognize different feelings on this. But having some players kneel for the 2 minutes to protest does not ruin the game for me.

While I understand chat rooms like this emphasize extremes in viewpoints, the events of the past week or so emphasize the need to have dialog and really think about the other persons’ viewpoint. The death of George Floyd causes me as a white man to really look at what it means to be black in America. And it isn’t pretty. And we all need to recognize that and do what we can do to change not only ourselves but others. And we can do so by also recognizing the good work that the majority of good police men and women do, while insisting that the bad apples be gotten rid of or prosecuted when they break the law. Just as we can recognize the rights of peaceful protesters while demanding justice when rioters and looters destroy businesses and neighborhoods, or when they kill police officers like the one in Las Vegas. The NFL finally got its wake up call and one can only hope they create a positive force for justice. Football will be played, but it will be played as it always has by men of different colors and beliefs that are not just football players but individuals with different experiences to share. Let’s hear them. Let’s hear a Kaepernick who stands up for what he sees as wrongs committed against black men. Let’s hear a Brees comment about his beliefs as to the meaning of the flag. I for one have no problem with kneeling, as kneeling in most circumstances is a sign of respect and a soldier recommended it as a respectful way to protest. But let’s talk about it. Or more importantly shut up and actually listen to the other guy. Our society today sees things too much as black and white, where in reality issues are more grey. And the very fact I use the phrase “black and white” to describe this pretty much says it all. God help our country.

That is dated information from March, I believe. The CDC has more recent recommendations indicating mask usage and I believe that WHO is currently examining whether to change their recommendation status.

Brees has the right to express his opinion, and his teammates and others have the right to call him out on it if they think he's out of line. They'll have to settle things in the locker room when they get back, although him stepping back a bit should help. Fromm can spout off what he wants, and Tre White can tell him he's a idiot. I am a big believer in law and order. When people break the law they need to be punished. That includes looters and cowards who incite violence during peaceful protests and come up behind a Las Vegas policeman and shoot him in the head. It also includes policemen who hold their knee down on a guy's neck even when he has no pulse, or when they shove a 75 year old guy back and crack his head open on a sidewalk. I'm also a big believer in the Constitution. I believe people have the right to peaceably assemble and protest against their government, whether that be on the streets of cities after a black man is murdered, or if it is kneeling on the side of a football field. I believe that peaceful protesters should not have pepper bullets and such shot at by agents of the government to clear a path for a non-religious man to stand in front of a church using the Word of God as a political prop. I believe in freedom of the press, and that the press should not get shot at or attacked for doing their job , whether or not you agree with their writings. I believe the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to vote, and that trying to take that away is unconstitutional. I believe the Second Amendment gives you the right to own and carry a gun as well. And I am sick and tired of people picking and choosing which amendments they support and which ones they reject to serve a partisan political purpose, regardless of your political persuasion. It's been 50 years since the last major protests across this country. I still remember driving down Bailey and seeing the stuff on the UB campus. You'd think we all would have learned something by now.

Shaw OJ Bruce Jimbo

First game at the Rockpile in 1960 and many thereafter!

I’ve brought this up in other threads, but back in the 60’s most if the guys had jobs in the off-season. The guys that stayed in Buffalo would play charity basketball games, and each year they’d play the faculty at Cardinal O’Hara. My dad was always asked to ref the game and he’s take me with him. So I’d get to hang out in the locker room with guys like Lamonica, Stew Barber, Paul Costa, Al Bemiller. Think Butch Byrd was there. And Ernie Warlick - HUGE hands. For an 8 year old kid it was pretty cool. Shane Nelson, Jim Haslett, Fred Smerlas

Cool! I threw him out there since he got them to the finals. Lindy has to be in there. And I hope in 10 years Ralph is a no brainer.

I was there. The Juice was incredible

True

I think Levy , Saban, and Ruff are no brainers. I’d throw Floyd Smith out there for consideration. Short term but got the Dabres to the finals.