Three NFL Protesters Nominated for Payton Award; WashPost Shields Them from Critics

December 10th, 2017 12:00 PM

Des Bieler of The Washington Post is one of the few in sports media making an issue of three NFL protesters who were nominated for the league's Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Nonetheless, he did not cite or quote anyone opposed to the protests which are seen by many Americans as disrespectful to the men and women who wore the military uniform.

The three protesters nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award are Kenny Stills of the Miami Dolphins, Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks and Harold Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles. They are, as Bieler mildly puts it, "among the NFL players most prominently involved in the ongoing protests during the national anthem."

As a running back for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987, Payton became one of the game's all-time greats, earning enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. He died from a liver disease in 1999. The award bearing his name is given each year to one player for "outstanding community service activities off the field as well as excellence on the field” and it is one of the league’s most prestigious honors.

The thought that one of the protesters, who either defiantly take a knee, sit or raise a fist during the national anthem is being considered for Man of the Year is repugnant. The protesters say it's all about social justice, but dissing vets and the national anthem rightfully is an affront to America and does nothing to solve the alleged social problems these players complain about.

Each of the 32 Payton nominees was selected by his respective teammates. When radical protesters gain these nominations, something about the meaning of the Payton award has obviously been lost in the translation. Bieler fails to note any difference between Payton's legacy and the notoriety of today's protesters.

Jenkins has been raising a fist during the national anthem for most of the last two seasons, but recently stopped his protest when the NFL promised to give some $90 million to players for social activism.

With Kaepernick all but retired now, Bennett has become the league's most outspoken race baiter. He ridiculously charged Las Vegas police of racial profiling and he's getting ready to introduce a book about whites and racism.

Of Stills, Bieler wrote he and "Miami teammate Michael Thomas were among the first NFL players to emulate Kaepernick’s protests last season, and they have continued to kneel during the anthem this season."

It seems lost on Commissioner Roger Goodell that these troubling nominees are among a group of protesters who are tearing down the NFL enterprise. The league is losing fans and TV viewers and its favorability ratings are plummeting, courtesy of the protests. Goodell, as Bieler's story shows, is praising all the nominees as if they'd all done something grand to enhance the league's prestige:

NFL players are outstanding, generous men of character who give back to their communities. Walter Payton represented the very best on and off the field and this year’s Man of the Year nominees exemplify his legacy of philanthropy and leadership. We are proud to support players as they use their platforms to drive positive change.

The Post story also includes a quote from Stills, who said his nomination “comes from everything that has been going on, from having the courage we had last year to sit out for something we felt strongly about. I think our teammates see the commitment and passion from us. It is hard not to recognize guys who are so committed to trying to help others. That’s all it’s about."

How do the radical protests "help others"? For one, they are embittering children who are copying their heroes by disrespecting America at youth football games. This isn't something to be proud of.

Bieler tries to shield the protesters from critics with this feeble excuse: "The players who have protested have taken pains to counter critics, including Trump, by insisting that their demonstrations are in no way meant to disrespect the anthem, the American flag, military members or anyone else. Many, including Kaepernick, Bennett, Jenkins and Stills, have said they are trying to bring attention to the issue of racial injustice, particularly police interactions with black men."

That would be much more believable if the dissidents took their beef to city hall instead of the football stadium. It would also be more credible if Bennett hadn't disobeyed police officers and run away from them in Vegas.

Stills says, “I’ve been given an opportunity and platform to shine light and positivity on other people. I think guys around the league are being recognized for that.”

Shining a positive light? By disrespecting the flag? If the media did its job -- instead of glorifying these radical protesters -- and reported fairly then maybe Kaepernick and his friends would never be considered for awards they don't deserve. Twenty-nine of these deserving nominees do show respect for America.