Long is the NFL’s Pee Wee Reese
“First Take” co-host Max Kellerman added his voice to the debate about social-justice activism in the National Football League — calling it a “disgrace” and “embarrassing” that no white NFL players had supported their black teammates in their national anthem protests.
To drive home his point, he used the example of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese in 1947, when Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s colour barrier.
“And Pee Wee Reese, as they’re booing Jackie Robinson and all this, walks over to Jackie Robinson and puts his arm around him saying: ‘See this guy? He’s with me and I’m with him, and anything you’re saying about him you’re saying to me, too,’’ Kellerman said. “There’s not one Pee Wee Reese in the NFL?”
There’s at least one: On Thursday night, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long kept his hand on teammate Malcolm Jenkins’ back as Jenkins raised his fist during the national anthem ahead of their pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say you need white athletes to get involved in the anthem protests,” Long said afterward, per ESPN.
“I’ve said before I’ll never kneel for an anthem, because the flag means something different for everybody in this country, but I support my peers. And if you don’t see why you need allies for people that are fighting for equality right now, I don’t think you’ll ever see it. So my thing is, Malcolm is a leader, and I’m here to show support as a white athlete.”
Kellerman wasn’t the only one to call out the NFL’s white players.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett had a similar sentiment earlier this week.
“It would take a white player to really get things changed,” Bennett said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Wednesday, “because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it, it would change the whole conversation. Because you bring somebody who doesn’t really have to be a part of the conversation, making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a big jump.”
Jenkins, who started raising his fist during the anthem last season and reportedly will continue doing so in 2017, said Long talked with him about his plan — and the reasons behind it — before the game.