SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

What do the NFL players want to see happen?

Sep 26, 2017, 4:59 PM

national anthem, NFL...

The Seahawks elected not to participate in the national anthem on Sunday. (File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

A military friend of mine said that Trump’s comments on the NFL were the words of a commander in chief speaking on behalf of his troops. My friend went on to say that the media doesn’t understand the troops and that they think that they only signed up to the military for college money.

Photos: NFL reacts to President Trump’s national anthem remarks

Now, I don’t like presidents getting involved in these kinds of issues. The president is not the answer to everything and he is not the barometer on the NFL. The president is our employee.

My military friend says that the National Anthem is for the entire nation, including babies just born. It is not just for the troops, it is an opportunity to celebrate a nation where everyone is free to do what they want, which includes putting a fist in the air. But people are also free to disassociate themselves from the NFL.

And you are not able to make these kinds of protests in many other countries.

I want to hear specifics from the people who are protesting. I want to know what they want changed. People feel that the flag has been disrespected, so, for a lot of people, the conversation has been shut down.

Pete Carroll: Seahawks’ demonstration was ‘for the flag,’ not against it

We need to have real dialogue and real discussion on data that we can all agree on. People have taken knees and put fists in the air before and there may have been a bit of evolution but not revolution.

The knee is not going to do anything. The media is already polarized. The conversation has not happened yet.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

Associated Press

Investigators probe a dramatic midair crash as a landing plane hits hovering police helicopter

CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) — Investigators are working to understand why a small plane veered to the side while landing at a rural airport and crashed into a hovering Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, a federal official said Thursday. Aaron McCarter, investigator-in-charge with the National Transportation Safety Board, said there is not an immediate explanation for Wednesday’s […]

14 minutes ago

Thurston County Jail...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Independent investigation requested after woman falls critically ill at Thurston County Jail

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 29-year-old woman fell critically ill while in custody at the Thurston County Jail.

24 minutes ago

seattle mayor katie wilson budget deficit billion...

Jillian Raftery

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s ‘impromptu boogie’ with Seattle rapper draws public safety criticism

You may have seen the video on Instagram, originally posted by Seattle rapper Y2K. Wilson stands next to him at a sports field and bobs to his anthemic track "SEA."

43 minutes ago

State Sen. Aisha Wahab, a Democratic candidate for Congress in California's 14th district, speaks d...

Associated Press

California lawmaker Aisha Wahab wins special election to succeed Eric Swalwell in Congress

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmaker Aisha Wahab secured victory Thursday in a special election to serve the rest of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s House term, which ends in January. Swalwell, a Democrat who was running for California governor, ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after he was accused of sexual assault […]

55 minutes ago

andrea suarez we heart seattle...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘As if I’m some kind of grifter’: We Heart Seattle founder fires back at state probe as Gee and Ursula press her on accountability

We Heart Seattle founder Andrea Suarez said she gave up a corporate career, invested $25,000, and spent three years picking up trash for free.

1 hour ago

FILE - The Harvard Medical School is seen Aug. 18, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)C...

Associated Press

Harvard agrees to $53 million settlement over body parts stolen and sold by former morgue manager

BOSTON (AP) — Harvard Medical School says it agreed to pay $53 million to settle class action lawsuits by relatives of body donors whose remains were sold on the black market by its former morgue manager. Harvard Medical School Deans George Q. Daley and Bernard S. Chang announced the development in a letter to the […]

1 hour ago

What do the NFL players want to see happen?