NFL’s End-Zone Messages Continue

For the sixth consecutive season, the NFL is displaying an end-zone message. This initiative originated during the Black Lives Matter movement in late 2020. Teams can now opt for phrases like “end racism,” “stop hatred,” “choose love,” or “change inspiration” in one end zone, while the opposite end displays “We all need it.”

These messages feel a bit empty, perhaps even outdated. This is especially true when considering how the discourse around social issues evolved after Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the 2016 national anthem. Today, many NFL fans, distanced from that nine-year-old event, want the league to concentrate on football rather than delve into politics.

I, for one, lean towards wanting these messages off the field. Yet, if the NFL persists with them this season, it might be worth considering adding “Back the Blue” as an option for teams.

Kaepernick didn’t just abstain from supporting the national anthem; he made some stark accusations against the police, referring to them as modern-day slave catchers. During his NFL practices, he even wore socks that depicted cops as pigs. After games, he alleged that police were deliberately targeting and killing Black individuals. These claims were, in my view at least, quite misleading and contributed to a strained relationship between the NFL and law enforcement. But let’s not forget, Kaepernick wasn’t the sole figure making such statements against the police.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL, unfortunately, seemed to back the narrative against law enforcement. He publicly praised Kaepernick in 2020, expressing regret that he hadn’t listened to him earlier. Goodell mentioned that they had invited Kaepernick to engage in dialogue, hoping to learn from him.

While the NFL did encourage protests against the police, it appears that this approach was misguided. The reality during the Black Lives Matter period saw a harrowing increase in homicide rates, something that the FBI noted with concern. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, fatalities surged, possibly exacerbated by a lack of support for law enforcement.

Ironically, as murder rates began to drop years later, one can argue that the efforts of dedicated police officers played a crucial role in that change. Locking away those who commit crimes will enhance community safety. If the NFL opts to highlight this truth in their messaging, it could help mend the relationship with law enforcement that was damaged due to Kaepernick’s actions and Goodell’s support of those claims.

So, if the NFL insists on a political stance on the field, why not acknowledge those who protect our communities? Perhaps placing a “Blue” message in the end zone would be fitting.