(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)The National Football League made no bones about joining with Black Lives Matter to bring “social justice” awareness to the nation. NFL teams were given names of “police shooting victims” to display on their helmets, and that’s when one player on the Pittsburgh Steelers refused to do it. Another claims he was duped and said the so-called victim was no victim at all. You’ll love this.
Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey feels duped by the NFL and BLM. Steelers players were told to display the name of Antwon Rose, who they were told was an innocent 17-year-old who was shot and killed by police. Pouncey displayed the name, but he now totally regrets doing it.
The NFL made the huge mistake of aligning themselves with BLM.
“The National Football League (NFL) has launched a new fund in response to the widespread Black Lives Matter protests that will donate US$250 million over ten years ‘to combat systemic racism’ in the US,” Sports Pro Media reports.
NFL teams are being advised by BLM activists who influence things like the names of so-called police shooting victims displayed by the players on their helmets.
“The Steelers organization chose to wear Antwon Rose’s name on the back of their helmets as part of the NFL’s social justice initiative,” Outkick reports.
The Steeler organization’s “website writer” Teresa Varley makes no bones about supporting BLM. She also believes in “systemic racism.” Since she is the one informing the players on these matters, the players are getting a very skewed anti-cop narrative.
“Following the death of George Floyd in the hands of police in Minnesota, peaceful protests have taken place in cities across the country to end systemic racism and police brutality as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement,” Varley writes on the official Steeler website.
Varley also had her own version of the Antwon Rose police shooting, and this is what she told the players:
“On the night of June 19, 2018, the car Antwon Rose Jr., who is black, was a passenger in was pulled over by the East Pittsburgh Police. While the driver was being handcuffed on suspicion of being involved in an incident that happened earlier that evening, a frightened Rose fled from the car.
The cell phone video a bystander captured showed Rose running, and then you could hear gunshots and see as he was fatally shot in the back three times by a white East Pittsburgh Police Officer.
Varley failed to mention deeper details surrounding the case such as the victim in the drive-by “incident” told investigators it was Rose who shot at him.
“The beef was between me and him, that car came by, he shot me, I ran to the store,” William Ross told investigators while referencing Rose.
Police also found a 9-millimeter handgun magazine in Rose’s pocket. A loaded 9-millimeter Glock was found under the seat with 16-rounds in a 17-round magazine. Police also stated gunshot residue was found on Rose’s hands.
Officer Michael Rosfeld was handcuffing the driver — later determined to be a jitney (unlicensed cabbie) — when Rose and Zaijuan Hester, who was in the backseat and used a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol during the drive-by, took off running from the East Pittsburgh officer.
Rosfeld shot Rose. The police officer testified that he thought one of the teens had turned and pointed a gun at him. It took four days of trial and four hours of deliberation before officer Rosfeld was acquitted.
Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey did his own research, and what he found out made him angry.
“I was given limited information on the situation regarding Antwon, and I was unaware of the whole story surrounding his death and what transpired during the trial following the tragedy,” Pouncey wrote. “I inadvertently supported a cause of which I did not fully comprehend the entire background of the case.”
The Steelers’ center works closely with law enforcement in both Pittsburgh and his native Florida.
“My focus will continue to be on helping the police in our communities, and I will support making any necessary changes to help those efforts,” he said in the post. “Make no mistake, I am against racism and I believe the best thing I can do is to continue helping repair relationships between the police and their communities.”
Pouncy’s teammate, Alejandro Villanueva, refused to wear Antwon Rose’s name on his helmet.
Villanueva wasn’t buying into the BLM agenda and decided to display the name of a military hero and Silver Star awardee, instead.
“Steelers LT Alejandro Villanueva wore the name of Alwyn Cashe on his helmet during last night’s game against the Giants. As noted by Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Cashe was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his service in Iraq,” Outkick reports.
On Monday, Teresa Varley reported on Steelers.com that every player on the Pittsburgh Steelers would “unite as one” and wear the name of Antwon Rose Jr. on the back of their helmets all season.
Villanueva went against Varley and the Steelers and chose to honor a real hero. The left tackle played college football at Army, served as a captain in the military, and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
This is the second time Villanueva has removed himself from a team protest. Before a game in 2017, Villanueva stood outside the Steelers tunnel for the national anthem while the rest of the team remained in the locker room.
Well, it’s good to know there are a few NFL players who are starting to think for themselves. Now, if these players could only inspire others to feel free to break away from the BLM agenda, the NFL might just make a comeback. But don’t hold your breath. The NFL is having the worst season ever as Americans boycott them over their “social justice” awareness campaign.
