Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
■ Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills says he’s received death threats since criticizing team owner.
Outspoken receiver criticized team owner over fundraiser to support president
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills acknowledged that it didn’t even take 24 hours before the death threats started rolling in.
Stills, who criticized team owner Steve Ross for what he feels is hypocritical behavior for hosting a big-money fundraiser for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, said the handful of death threats he received haven’t phased him.
“I’m trying to do the work God created in my heart to do,” said Stills, who began kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 season opener to protest social injustice and make a push for racial equality.
Stills, a two-time team captain, began his fourth year of kneeling during the anthem on Thursday night.
Stills, 27, spent roughly 15 minutes after Thursday night’s 34-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons taking every question sent his way about the Dolphins owner, his future with the team, and possibly being a distraction.
“It’s not about politics. It’s never been about politics,” said Stills, who has scored 24 touchdowns over the past four seasons. “It’s about human be
ings. Some people say you don’t say those things to your boss, but for me it’s just a human being. If you say you’re going to be about something, let’s be about it.”
Trump has repeatedly railed against NFL players, such as Stills and former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, for kneeling during the national anthem to raise awareness for racial and social inequalities.
During a Wednesday tweet, Stills called out Ross for contradicting the mission statement of his nonprofit organization RISE, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.
“You can’t have a non-profit with this mission statement then open your doors to Trump,” Stills posted on his Twitter account.
RISE’s mission statement reads: “We are a national non-profit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.”
Stills also addressed why he distanced himself from doing volunteer work with RISE long before discovering Ross was hosting the 2020 reelection fundraiser.
“I’ve tried to distance myself from the RISE initiative based off a gut feeling I had. I’ve done little things here and there, but I wasn’t included in the Super Bowl thing they did, and it’s something I felt in my gut from the beginning,” Stills said. “I respect the work that they’ve done, but things aren’t aligning for me so I try to stay away from it.”
Stills hasn’t talked to Ross directly, but hopes to eventually, and when he does he’ll reiterate what he said in his tweet, pointing out that Ross’ words and actions don’t align.
He doesn’t seem concerned about his future with the Dolphins. He’s slated to earn $8 million this season, $3 million of which is guaranteed. The Dolphins have a relatively deep stable of receivers, but Stills is considered one of the key components of Brian Flores’ offense. During the team’s scrimmage last week, Miami’s defensive coaches used Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard to shadow Stills, which is the ultimate sign of respect.
Ross is not the only NFL executive to support Trump. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady are staunch supporters, while New York Jets owner Woody Johnson serves as Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Ross, 79, became the majority owner of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium in 2009. He is also the founder, owner and chairman of The Related Companies, which is credited with the recent Hudson Yards redesign project in New York, and oversees companies such as Equinox Fitness, SoulCycle, Vaynermedia and RSE Ventures.
Ross’ net worth is estimated to be at least $7.7 billion, according to Forbes.