Jason Whitlock: NFL showing a 'failure of leadership' on anthem, caving to pressure from Black Lives Matter
"This goes against every value that the NFL has built itself on," he says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Outkick.com contributor Jason Whitlock responded Monday to the NFL reportedly planning to play the Black national anthem before games, calling it a “lack of leadership” and a “failure of men to stand up and stand on the principles that they say they believe in.”
“When I look at what the NFL is doing, this goes against every value that the NFL has built itself on. Professional sports have built themselves on the celebration of Americana, the ideas and values that best exemplify America,” Whitlock told “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
He said that professional sports built itself on unifying America. Furthermore, Whitlock raised a concern that NFL players will be standing for the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and then kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“The NFL will run off a nice fat chunk of its audience and will never be seen the same again because of the failure of leadership throughout the NFL,” Whitlock said.
NFL WILL PLAY BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM PRIOR TO WEEK 1 GAMES, REPORT SAYS
The reported decision to play the song comes following the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd, which led to nationwide protests over racial inequality and police brutality. According to the ESPN report, the song will be played before “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The NFL has not commented on the reports.
Whitlock said that Black Lives Matter is a “Marxist political organization” that does not stand for “Black death nor Black men.”
“It is a political move. It is a Communist political move. ... I’ve seen many of these guys, they claim they’re in Christianity and their religious beliefs, do they understand Black Lives Matter, Communism, Marxism, is anti-religious? This is a historic failure of men and leadership. This is cowardice at its highest level, this is the NFL jumping the shark and saying we quit being who we said we are. We’re now something else because our money is on the line and we don’t stand for the values we said we stood for.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
The league and the NFL Players Association are also contemplating listing the names of victims on uniforms through decals on helmets or patches on jerseys, ESPN reported. The NFL also may produce educational programs about victims. They also have other plans that haven’t been identified.
The league hopes it demonstrates “a genuine commitment to the public, players and coaches and that player voices continue to be heard,” according to ESPN’s source.