Calling All Heroes: An Open Letter To The Men Of The NFL

—

These aren’t your standard comic book heroes. Do they have a responsibility to work for the betterment of all? 

—

The other day I watched Cam Newton make about six guys miss on his way to the end-zone. It was a real “how the heck did he do that” moment. The Carolina faithful went wild, and he gave them his trademark celebration: the miming of a mere mortal pulling back his day-wear to reveal the “S” on your chest. I saw this and decided to write Cam and the other super-humans of the NFL a note:

To the players, coaches, and administration of the National Football League,

First of all, I’ve been a fan for ages. This weekend I’ll pull Brian Urlacher’s 54 jersey over my head and watch the Bears struggle through another ‘rebuilding’ season. But I’m loyal, I’ll be there with you guys every step of the way. And once the game is over, I’ll slip into the second part of my weekend ritual: check the evening news. In case you haven’t been watching, these are trying times. Guns, violence towards women, and socio-economic inequality may not be at all-time highs, but they’re certainly as public as it has ever been. The state of things seems so dire, the issues so complex, that I can’t help but feel that we’re coming up short… we need a hero – minimally, NFLPA, we need your voice.

JJ Watt, have you ever seen The Incredibles? I have. Remember that chubby little kid who wants so badly to be a superhero, but simply doesn’t have it? That’s me and you, JJ. Yesterday, a classmate of mine said I remind him of you – the smaller, less talented version of you, of course. You can do things that normal people can’t do – heck, you can do things that talented athletes can’t do, you are literally super-human, so far ahead of us average folks that we can only look on in awe. Elite, and with a pedestal: sports media outlets have raised you closer to the clouds than the ground – you have been deified, with Twitter as the new Olympus. You and your friends, collectively, have one of the loudest voices on the planet. It’s time for you to use it.

Richard Sherman, hi. Man you have a good thing going. Super Bowl ring, All-Pro talent, a degree from Stanford. Exceptional. But Richard, your counterparts are making headlines for violence toward women – that puts them in the minority, right? If so, please tell us. I would assume that for every Ray Rice there are a huge number of family men who treat their spouses like royalty, love their children unconditionally, and more accurately represent the NFL community. The problem is, being a good dad doesn’t make the news. I have seen the Ray Rice punch fifty times, conservatively, but I have never seen Richard Sherman speak out against it. And maybe you have, Richard, but I haven’t heard it – I’ve heard of your talent, and the vaunted Legion of Boom, but nothing about not attacking those who are less capable of defending themselves. Again, it’s possible that I just haven’t heard you – but I’ve been paying attention, Richard, so please speak up.

Marshawn Lynch, you don’t talk much. I respect that. Especially since, should you adopt the cause, you could spend ninety seconds denouncing the ease with which an American can purchase a gun and it would make headlines for weeks – you could say something like “you think you’re a tough guy? come stop me on 4^th and one – or – hitting women doesn’t make you tough, it’s a demonstration of your biggest weakness,” say something like that, Marshawn, and we will listen.

Aaron Rogers, tell us that the US government should make it far more difficult to purchase a gun. Wisconsin, statistically speaking, uses their many weapons responsibly – they’d be a major voice in defense of ‘freedom’ and against tightening gun laws – that is, unless their hero spoke out about it. And if you are of the opinion that “crazy people do crazy things,” please know you’re not alone – in fact, there’s logic there. But would you agree with the logic that Dylann Roof would not have killed nine churchgoers in Charleston with a slingshot? And isn’t it safe to think that of the thirty thousand Americans killed by guns each year would have a better chance at survival if their attackers were armed with sharp sticks? I know that comes at a steep cost: a few less guinea fowl on the belt and fewer buckhorn trophies on the wall. But that’s a fair trade, right?

Though some say there’s more to the story: this past summer, I was in line at a Chicago area grocery store when I overheard a middle-aged gentleman claim that without guns, the government could take us over at any minute… I couldn’t help but picture my mother loading an automatic weapon, clumsily making her way to the doorstep in efforts to fend off the most advanced army in the world – or my seventy year old father aiming his pistol at a tank rumbling down the road. This is my anecdote, Clay Matthews, but at your next press conference, feel free to use it as your own.

Kyle Long, are you there? Jay Cutler? The Chicago Public Schools system is one of the most tragically flawed organizations in the US. The children living in our murder capitol need positive role models, comfortable learning environments, and moral mentors – instead they get broken windows through frigid Chicago winters, underqualified teachers, and qualified ones who are in a constant state of uncertainty, since they were banking on Teacher’s Retirement instead of opening up a 401k, and now all the money’s gone. Don’t you think this should be fixed? You don’t have to propose a solution, just voice a serious opinion. Guys, I won’t even point out that if NFL players donated a minor percent of their earnings in a given year, how much closer the school system would be to financial impregnability – I just want to hear, publically, that it makes you as upset as it should.

Rowdy Roger Goodell… want to hear an  interesting parallel? In the United States, an eighteen year old can’t but a beer, but he can have a handgun – and by the time he’s old enough to drink himself stupid, he can complement his hobby with a semi-automatic AK-47… it reminds me of another thing that’s legal but nonsensical: how you won’t let De’Angelo Williams wear pink in honor of his recently deceased mom, or William Gay to wear cleats denouncing domestic violence, but Ray Rice and Greg Hardy have clearance to work for your company. Owners, answer this honestly: are you not signing Ray Rice because he punched his girlfriend in the face hard enough for the 10 count in a heavyweight fight, or is it the media backlash you fear? the “hit” to ticket sales? I don’t know either, but I’d like to – please, tell me. Say it publically. Say it loud.

Speaking of knockout blows – NFLPA, you know what’s serious? CTE. Truly, it’s a problem. That said, it mostly affects you guys – you, who account for 0.15% of active football players – that is, those who make an average of $1.9million per year – that is, the rich minority. The one percent of the one percent. Still, we’re worried, we want to help you. As I write this note, your fans are raising funds to your benefit, we’re raising awareness through documentary and film, we’re funding research projects and University laboratories are hard at work. Don’t you want to return the favor? Just say the word.

Quick stats: Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, and Larry Fitzgerald combine for more than seven million (7,000,000) Twitter followers. Twenty million (20,000,000) people will tune in to watch the games this Sunday and CNN puts NFL earnings at nine and a half billion dollars (9,500,000,000) each year.

Quick stats: eighty six (86) people will die today from gun violence. Before the sun sets, nearly seven hundred (700) people will be the victim of a hate crime, and more than nine thousand (9,000) women will be beaten. All the while, the school system, through which we hope to create good and moral citizens, continues to disintegrate in a solution of complacency and under-funding.

Although I was raised a Bears fan, I’ve been displaced in New England this fall. Every Sunday I walk down to one of my favorite spots to watch the games and, Gronk, I see your face seven times along the way: twice at Dunkin Donuts, three times at the corner Subway (seems excessive), and once as sticker-graffiti of your face colored green and the phrase GRONK SMASH. None of these images can talk. So I’m asking the real you to pick a cause, Gronk. Speak up and speak out, make it loud and sincere.

These are tough times, NFL, we have our ears to the ground and our eyes to the sky – we’re waiting. You have our adoration, you have our respect, and you have our attention… please, use it for good. This Sunday, every Sunday, we’ll be watching.

Sincerely, and with great hope,

– Jim Davis #51

Photo: Getty Images

The post Calling All Heroes: An Open Letter To The Men Of The NFL appeared first on The Good Men Project.