Carroll proud of Seahawks’ stand
Encouraging his players to be active and outspoken on social issues and in the community is part of the foundation to Pete Carroll’s program in Seattle.
With that comes managing the balance between those issues and the product the Seahawks are putting on the field.
That’s where Carroll and his team stand headed into Sunday’s game with Indianapolis. Seattle has been at the forefront of the conversation regarding last week’s protests of racial injustice during the national anthem and the Seahawks’ decision to remain in the locker-room before their game against Tennessee.
But they’re also a team that needs a victory after dropping two of three to start the season.
“I think that last week was about making a statement and I think moving forward, it’s about making a difference. I think that our players sense that, our coaches sense that, that we’d really like to focus and make sure football is really at hand and that we are doing everything we can,” Carroll said Wednesday. “We did last week as well, with another issue to deal with. I think it is going to be different this week. I know we already feel like it is different.”
The Seahawks have been inconsistent on offence with just two offensive touchdowns through the first 10 quarters of the season and have allowed a handful of uncommonly big plays on defence.
But the conversations regarding social issues have proven difficult to just push aside.
“It’s a challenge. Even if you think it can’t distract you it can subliminally distract you in a way where you don’t even notice it,” centre Justin Britt said. “I think the ones that are speaking up and being the leaders in the category are the ones that are really good at controlling their mind and controlling
their focus and concentration and I think they’re doing a really good job.”
Most of those who have served as Seattle’s spokesmen have been with the team for a number of years, whether it’s Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman or Doug Baldwin. Baldwin said it was important last week to have the discussions and make a statement with the team’s protest after the comments from President Donald Trump, but the focus now needs to be on ways to push the conversation forward while also being part of a successful football team.
“It is difficult because there is a lot of emotion tied into it, so I do agree with him in that there was a time for a statement and there could still be time for statement,” Baldwin said. “But there is also time for moving forward and finding some resolution. I think that is what we are all aiming for, is finding resolution, finding the next stop, the next step, and really just advancing our society.”