NFL Legend Franco Harris: Players in My Day Would Have 'Dealt With' Anthem Protesters
Al Hernandez, SMS, STS
Director of Corporate Safety / US Land Operations, Centurion Group
NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris says national anthem protests would not have been tolerated in his day.
In an interview with Mediate, Harris was asked about NFL players refusing to stand for the national anthem, a demonstration that was started last season by Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
During the 2017 NFL preseason, other players like the Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett and the Oakland Raiders' Marshawn Lynch had similar protests of their own.
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Harris said that America certainly has social issues that must be dealt with, but Kaepernick and other players should find a different platform for their protests.
“If someone has a certain stance that they want to take, that’s fine,†Harris said. “When he puts on that suit, when he steps out on that field, now it’s more than just him. It's his teammates, it's the NFL, and it's the fans."
Harris went on to say that the team must come first, and coaches and teammates in his day would have confronted Kaepernick over his protest.
“We had two of the meanest guys in football, who I think would’ve dealt with it that way, and that would’ve been Joe Greene and Jack Lambert," Harris said.
Another NFL legend, Jim Brown, recently said he wants to support Kaepernick, but he cannot stand behind disrespecting the American flag and national anthem.
Kaepernick remains a free agent, which has led to accusations of blackballing and calls for an NFL boycott.
Vice President Client Solutions at Technical Safety Services (TSS)
7 å¹´Sports is an outlet and stress reliever for many fans, we absolutely do not want political controversy thrown in the mix. Save that for off the field.
President/CEO at Al-Amin & Associates Inc.
7 å¹´So glad we've come so much further then his day and I pitty anyone who would want to go back to days of ignorance. If we truly want to grow we have to get rid of the shackles of injustice for everyone, not just some. I am a military veteran and I find it sad that the very things / rights we fought for the people of our country to enjoy can't be openly practiced by the people we were fighting for in the first place. We put our lives on the line for free speech and freedom to practice and stand for what we want as individuals. I find it sad that all these cowards who don't stand for anything have so much to say about the ones who do.
SR HRBP, Civil Treatment in the Workplace Certified Instructor for Employees and Leaders, Total Rewards Champion ?? Mental Health First Aider
7 å¹´I hope Kaepernick keeps inspiring other players to kneel as well. #istandwithkaepernick
CEO- Blackstone Security and Training Academy, Concealed Weapon Permit Trainer, NRA Firearm instructor.
7 å¹´America the Beautiful is still ugly in so many ways, this is what the protest is all about.