Originally Posted by
anyaka21
Ok, here's my take - It's really grandstanding with poor form on both sides. What I mean by this is the Pense thing was blatantly stupid. Firstly, going to a Colts v 49ers when it is widely known that this is not only where this started, but that the majority of kneelers are there then claiming you left because of said protest, is just showing up to leave. Blatant obvious grandstanding, and blatant poor form by the VP and apparently initiated by Trump.
However, this is something the NFL really could have used to build up some credibility and some sympathy. Yet, Eric Reid decided to grandstand in his own way and calling Pence leaving "systematic oppression...." Basically doing his own grandstanding and as thus lost the NFL sympathy vote.
As for the situation: Firstly let me say that I think kneeling is a sign of respect and I don't have an issue with it. However, I do object to the way it was started by the words Kapernick used and how he chose to protest showed disrespect. Further, at least IMO, when I look at the facts and statistics, what he's saying doesn't really add up and the focus is all wrong. What I mean by this, black v black killing is around 6000 per year and 90%+ of that is gang related. 258 black people were killed by cops in 2015 and the vast majority (75%) of that was cops responding to "shots fired" situations. Thus you have 50-60ish that don't have guns, though according to statistics another 15% are active threat level situations, robberies, knives, etc... Thus about 10% of that is what Kap seems to want to protest or 25-30 black people killed per year. But he wants to ignore the 6000 deaths of black people killing black people. Thus, insanely misplaced.
Further, even after he kneeled for respect reasons, he still wore "cops are pig" socks to warmups and essentially continually showed his disrespect for the police,
Lastly, to those that have suggested that Kap should be working in the NFL and would be if it wasn't for his stance, and while that may be true to some extent. The reason he doesn't have a job is the money he wants for a back up role or starter money for back up role. And he's really on the decline of his skills, thus no upside for teams to sign him for $10mil a year. And yes, part of that is because teams will lose fans if they sign him. He also has the potential to divide a locker room, and thats really bad for team chemistry. Teams are better off signing veterans on the cheap or rookies with upside. And to make matters worse, its not just that. The Ravens had a contract ready to go, but Kaps girlfriend decided to post a racist tweet about the Ravens and because of that, the Ravens decided not to sign him. Or in other words, his girlfriend is actively helping him not get signed.