Raw Story
The National Football League said on Monday it would not discipline the St. Louis Rams players who staged a show of solidarity with people angry about the controversial shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
Five of the Rams emerged from the tunnel prior to their game Sunday with their hands raised, the same way some witnesses say 18-year-old Michael Brown was positioned before being fatally shot by officer Darren Wilson in August.
“We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation,” National Football League spokesman Brian McCarthy told Reuters.
He said none of the players who took part in the protest would be fined or suspended.
More from ESPN putting the NFL Veep's remarks into a bit more context: he was replying to the sentiments of Jeff Roorda the words spoken by Mr. Roorda:
"I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights," SLPOA business manager Jeff Roorda said in the statement. "Well, I've got news for people who think that way: Cops have First Amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I'd remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser's products. It's cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do. Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play. If it's not the NFL and the Rams, then it'll be cops and their supporters."
In response, Brian McCarthy, the NFL's VP of communications, released a statement Monday: "We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation."
Tight End Jared Cook spoke a little about the gesture:
"We kind of came collectively together and decided we wanted to do something," Cook said after the Rams' 52-0 victory. "We haven't been able to go down to Ferguson to do anything because we have been busy. Secondly, it's kind of dangerous down there and none of us want to get caught up in anything.
"So we wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world."
And that they did.
Hooray! for no fine!