On Hardball with Chris Matthews, Morgan State University professor Jason Johnson predicts the New England Patriots will win Super Bowl LI based on the median political beliefs of Massachusetts voters versus Georgia voters.
pro football
The Root: Is Colin Kaepernick Hurting NFL Ratings? We’ll Find Out This Sunday
Who is the wokest player in the NFL? Who has the No. 1-selling jersey in the NFLwithout starting one game all season? Who has the flyest sports Afro since Julius “Dr. J” Irving? Who started a protest that exposed half of the on-air NFL analysts for the closet racists that they are?
Just talking about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick has been riding the bench since the middle of last season behind perennial mediocre quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Now that the team has lost every game since the start of the season, 49ers coach Chip Kelly is putting Kaepernick in the game, having announced Tuesday that the quarterback would start against Buffalo this Sunday. That means that this Sunday, a confluence of ratings, politics, race and economics will come crashing together like a linebacker on a helpless receiver.
Which raises the question: Can Kaepernick even play anymore? And if so, what does his hitting the field do to protests across the league? The answer is harder to untangle than a goal line pileup.
Kaepernick’s return to the starting job for the 49ers couldn’t come at a more critical time for social-justice movements or the NFL as a whole. In the wake of the Charlotte, N.C., protests, more police shootings and a GOP presidential nominee’s advocacy of national stop and frisk, sports networks and some team owners were quietly trying to tamp down coverage of players protesting for justice. Kaepernick’s return to the field brings all of those issues back to the forefront.
On the NFL side, this season has been an absolute mess, and Kaepernick may be the cause or the cure. Television ratings are down in the league across the board. After Hulk-like ratings growth for almost 30 straight years, prime-time ratings of NFL games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday are down anywhere from 10 to 20 percent in some markets from last year alone.
There are lots of theories about why this is the case, half of which have to do with Kaepernick and the protests he’s sparked. Some analysts have said that the NFL is losing out to the presidential election: The first two Donald Trump-vs.-Hillary Clinton debates went up against Monday- and Sunday-night football (and trashed the NFL both times). Others have argued that the product has been garbage this year: badly played prime-time games, and major stars like Cam Newton, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are either injured, suspended or retired. Some argue that online viewing and cord cutting have made more fans tune in on iPads and phones instead of television.
The loudest theory for the NFL ratings drop has come from right-wing blogs that have been pushing the #BoycottNFL hashtag. A bunch of “deplorable” NFL fans have claimed that they are boycotting the sport until the league does something about Kaepernick and other players who kneel during the national anthem. (The conflation of the national anthem and saluting the troops: a strong and proud tradition dating all the way back to 2011, when the Department of Defense wrote a fat advertising check to the NFL.)
It is not clear which, if any, of these factors explains why the NFL’s ratings are deflating. I seriously doubt that a bunch of New England Patriots fans were willing to miss out on Brady coming back because a few guys put up a fist. Nor do I believe that a real football fan would rather watch Clinton spike the ball on Trump than Aaron Rodgers make a great play (I watch the debates and the game simultaneously).
Regardless of the cause, one thing is clear: Kaepernick’s return to the field Sunday will make the game between the Buffalo Bills and the 49ers one of the most watched of the season—which actually opens up a whole other set of problems for Kaepernick and for others protesting the killing of unarmed black men by police.
When Kaepernick’s silent protests went public, he got backlash from commentators who declared him un-American, spoiled and every other public coded word for “ungrateful n–ger” that you can get away with on basic cable. However, Kaepernick was in a unique position: He was a backup quarterback. Since he wasn’t playing, the focus was on the larger number of players who were protesting in the NFL, at the college level and even in other professional sports.
The Jason Whitlocks, Ray Lewises and Phil Simms of the world had to crawl back into their pillowcase forts and sulk because they couldn’t attack a backup, the movement was bigger than one man, and the fans were behind him. Now, with Kaepernick back as the starting quarterback, his play will become the lens through which his protests are now judged.
A month ago I noted that Kaepernick’s protests and statements on race were braver than that of LeBron James or of pre-Super Bowl Newton because he did not have the protection of a championship ring or an MVP trophy. Kaepernick was once a top five quarterback in the league; now he was a backup on a limited contract speaking out about social justice. If he goes out and plays well, this Sunday and beyond, it shows the world that social activism is not a distraction or an impediment to great play on the field. If anything, it could be argued that Kaepernick’s activism reinvigorated his career. Most important, his on-field success would show once and for all that being a star player is not a prerequisite to taking a stand on controversial social issues.
Ultimately, Kaepernick’s return to the NFL will draw eyeballs, inspire think pieces and, hopefully, raise some consciousness for the casual fan. While it shouldn’t make a difference how well he plays on the field, it will affect his credibility on social issues in the minds of some people. I hope he plays well. I hope he throws five touchdowns and blows the Buffalo Bills off the field. Because you know that first postgame press conference will be lit.
This article originally appeared online at The Root.
The Root: Seattle Seahawks #AllLivesMatter Protest Is an Act of Political Cowardice
Are you ready for some football? Are you ready for some flag-waving solemn 15thanniversary of September 11th remembrances? Are you ready for some Colin Kaepernick-inspired Black Lives Matter demonstrations by NFL players? If not – too bad because you’re going to get all of those things when you tune in for any team’s NFL kickoff today, with the exception of the last from the Seattle Seahawks.
In a move of unprecedented political cowardice and acquiescence, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin says the team will engage in a “unity demonstration.”
“To express a desire to bring people together, our team will honor the country and flag in a pregame demonstration of unity,” he said.
The Seahawks players, with this misguided and ahistorical “demonstration” might as well paint #AllLivesmatter on their helmets and tie puppet strings to their arms. Because it’s so on the fence, this action will disappoint NFL fans who favor social change, offend “Respect the Flag” advocates, enrage those #BasketofDeplorables who hate any activism from black athletes and, ultimately, muddle the real issues of police brutality in America.
Since the national press noticed Colin Kaepernick protesting the national anthem two weeks ago the national conversation about race, justice and police brutality has jumped from the mainstream to the sports talk, radio and TV roundups. Predictably, Kaepernick’s brave protest brought out athletes and pundits desperately auditioning to be the NFL’s version of the film Django Unchained’s master loving slave Stephen, hoping to protect their precious league from player activism.
Hall of Fame 49er Jerry Rice said Kaepernick was disrespecting the flag. Professional racial sports troll Jason Whitlock said Kaepernick was being manipulated. Hall of Famer Ray Lewis criticized the protests for not “having a plan.” Of course, a funny thing happened on the way to NFL kickoff this Sunday. Anthem protests have spread to other sports including soccer, including high school and college teams. Not to mention Kaepernick’s got the no. 1 selling jersey in the NFL and his social media following has jumped 35,000 percent in a week (Not 35. Thirty-five thousand!) Now with donations, eloquent interviews and his activism he’s acting like a modern day Jim Brown whilelooking like a modern day Jim Kelly.
While Kaepernick’s activism has inspired some to take a stand it’s inspired the Seattle Seahawks team to take a fence. Unable to take the bold step to protest collectively or the equally acceptable step of not protesting at all, they have chosen the mushy middle: #AllLivesMatter pabulum for those too cowardly to take a real stand but still wanting to be a part of the conversation.
Last Thursday, Seahawks Corner Back Jeremy Lane took a knee during the anthem at a pre-season game in solidarity with Kaepernick, and to stand against police brutality. This week team leader Doug Baldwin stated the entire team would take some collective action on the first game of the NFL season (which is also the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks). Would they all take a knee? Would they stand in a “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” pose or could we dare to dream that an entire NFL squad would be bold enough to raise their fists a la John Carlos in 1968 right before the game? None of the above. Baldwin quoted Martin Luther King Jr. then announced through a short video Saturday night that the team will lock arms.
“We honor those who have fought for the freedom we cherish. And we stand to assure the riches of freedom and the security of justice for all people. Progress can and will be made only if we stand together,” Baldwin said.
To paraphrase that great sage and social critic Titus Andromedon “What kind of white #AllLivesmatter nonsense is this?” Colin Kaepernick isn’t seeking unity. Black Lives Matter isn’t seeking unity. All the men and women across the country demonstrating are not seeking unity. They are seeking justice. TVOne’s Roland Martin was quick to bring the ruckus to Baldwin on Twitter Saturday pointing out the mushiness of their “demonstration.”
I’m sure Baldwin and the other players on the Seahawks are sincere, but their mealy-mouthed sanitized version of Martin Luther King’s activism could’ve come right out of the #AllLivesMatter/#BlackonBlackCrime false equivalence playbook. Take a knee if you want to protest police brutality or if you just realized the national anthem is racist.
Don’t take a knee if you’re afraid of offending sponsors or fans or think that it’s disrespectful. Don’t engage in some demonstration that neither addresses the issue of police brutality nor satisfies the “Respect the Flag” crowd. Further, calls for unity always magically appear after people of color make noise about injustice and institutionalized racism. Unity is a pacifier thrown at people of color to distract from the serious suffering in our community.
White police officers and politicians started calling for unity after Sandra Bland died mysteriously. Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina had nothing to say about white supremacists for years, but after nine people are massacred at Bible study she’s calling for “unity.” Nobody was calling for unity when Cleveland cops were bragging about taking out black folks but after Tamir Rice is killed suddenly it’s supposed to be a Kumbaya unity moment.
Unity is the slogan for the armchair quarterbacks of activism. Kaepernick’s actions have galvanized fans and led to actual tangible support for social justice issues. The NFL is at a tipping point for activism and entertainment that has never been seen in modern times. This “demonstration” by the Seahawks plays right into that oft debunked notion that social justice can only come by tiptoeing on the sidelines of white guilt and comfort instead of giving the ball to your biggest loudest messengers and punching it in from the one yard line. The Seattle Seahawks would be better off doing nothing than taking a fence-straddling appeasement strategy that serves no one but will inevitably be used to distract from the real issue of police brutality that Kaepernick is protesting.
Taking a stand on African American issues is hard, especially on September 11th and athletes who take that risk should be commended. However, if social protest has to be scheduled based on what makes people comfortable, those aren’t really rights, they’re more like frequent flier miles.
If Seahawks coach Pete Carroll can be a card carrying 9-11 truther then the Seahawks can definitely take a stand against the harsh reality of police brutality’s impact on black lives. Instead they’re punking out. I hope at the last minute they surprise us all and do better. And hopefully they’ll realize that justice is more important than unity.
This article originally appeared online at The Root.
CNN: Jason Johnson on President Obama Remarks on Colin Kaepernick
On CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello, The Root Politics Editor Jason Johnson discussed President Obama’s remarks about 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick and his protest during the Star Spangled Banner.
News One Now With Roland Martin: Jason Johnson on #VeteransForKaepernick
On News One Now with Roland Martin, political science professor Jason Johnson discusses the issues of the day with fellow panelists Lauren Victoria Burke and A. Scott Bolden
On San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the #VeteransForKaepernick hashtag
On the achievement gap in education