"I don't want to do this."
On August 21, 2017, I posted this very statement as the lede on my first blog post, explaining that I would boycott the NFL due to it's blackballing of Colin Kaepernick over his protest over police killings and brutality. I stated I would boycott until the embattled quarterback was signed or until the end of the 2017 season. I made no promise that I would or could continue to boycott for the 2018 season because I knew I couldn't do this again.
Last year was tough enough. I got angry. Real angry. And the more I heard and read throughout the season, the more it took a toll on me mentally to witness all of this crap go down.
I wound up following the NFL's blackballing of Kaepernick and reading all the poor excuses it made for why a capable quarterback in a talent-strapped league at that position in particular somehow couldn't make a team. I mean there was a time the entire AFC South Division was in need of an NFL quarterback (fill-in starter, backup, whatever) and Kaepernick couldn't get so much as a workout. I wouldn't know for certain, but people tell me Jacksonville was perhaps a quarterback away from playing in last year's Super Bowl.
An NFC North team suffered in defiance and missed out on a playoff berth, going 3-6 with Brett Hundley (who didn't have a QBR above 76.4 in his starts), rather than give Kaep a chance to play or start for them. Denver wanted Kaepernick prior to his protest during the anthem, then they didn't once it happened. I could go on and on, but what's the point? It's clear and it's been clear what's going on.
That's why I stopped writing. It was painfully obvious what was going on and I couldn't devote more time and energy just to be mad. This wasn't changing. But things did get more interesting and embarrassing for the NFL.
The league has since tried to reign in protests by letting teams decide punishment, which pleased no one, the NFLPA filed a grievance against the anthem policy and the league has since put a hold on the policy. U.S. President Donald Trump, in search of win politically, has chided the NFL players for "disrespecting the flag" or anthem or veterans or anything else he can think of, only to disgrace himself by not properly honoring John McCain, a vietnam war vet and GOP Senate stalwart who died after battling brain cancer.
The protests during the anthem, started by Kaepernick has exposed so many people. From those that continue to intentionally ignore "what the protests are all about," to those that actually don't mind police brutality, to the NFL and it's scam of meritocracy, to political pundits and sports talking heads to even the current President of the United States, the light of truth has had visible effects. And a lot of y'all are looking funny in the light.
But here we are. One year later and Kaepernick effectively sued the NFL in a collusion case and even that hasn't stopped the league from apparently blackballing his former teammate, safety Eric Reid, for essentially the same reasons. Those reasons: "silence the player, silence the protest, and ... act as a deterrent for current NFL players to stop them from making any other overt display against the police" or anything related to the anthem or the flag.
In a way we've come full circle and we've arrived at the same issue. Kaepernick is still unsigned, the NFL still has no idea how to let this issue fade away and are still doing things to make it worse and the central issue Kaepernick was kneeling for in the first place still exist and justice still hasn't properly been served.
Still, all protests must come to an end and new ways must begin to fight for justice without losing the fervor that inspired you to protest in the first place. I can't speak for what the players may do and frankly that's up to them because it's their protest to continue or end.
For me, I'll never stop caring about or speaking out against police brutality and killings in this country, just like I'll never forget how the NFL owners colluded to shut down and shut out men for bringing the issue to light on a worldwide stage in the first place. I've just decided that I can move on from the boycott and watch the sport again.
Last year I wanted to make it clear that I didn't disparage anyone not joining me on mine or anyone else's boycott against the NFL. Now that I will be watching football again at the start of the 2018 regular season, I would hope that courtesy is extended to me.
I understand if you feel differently.
So, this is the end of this blog. Ironically enough, I'm ending it at seven posts, the same jersey number Kaepernick had in San Fran. Here's hoping Colin's NFL career hasn't also come to an end.
I doubt it, tho.
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