Kaepernick wore socks in protest of ‘rogue cops’
‘Rocky’ steps in Philly to serve as backdrop at draft
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he wore socks depicting police officers as pigs in protest of “rogue cops” who put the community and other officers at risk.
Kaepernick issued a statement on Instagram on Thursday after photos began circulating on social media of him wearing the socks that show a pig dressed in a police hat. The photos were taken earlier in training camp before Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as a form of protest became public.
“I wore these socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust,” he wrote. “I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and serve ALL people. So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately.”
Kaepernick stirred debate last weekend when his decision to sit during the national anthem in protest of what he called oppression of African-Americans and other minorities became public. Kaepernick Draft moves to Philly: The NFL is expected to pick up the majority of the cost to stage the 2017 draft in Philadelphia, with the city’s “Rocky” steps serving as its backdrop.
City officials say they don’t expect the NFL’s 82nd event to come at taxpayer expense, but instead expect to raise about $5 million of the $25 million budget with the league paying for the event’s staging and infrastructure.
Senior vice president Peter O’Reilly said Thursday the event’s location will represent a return to the birthplace of the draft. The first NFL draft was held in Philadelphia in 1936, when the Eagles selected versatile halfback Jay Berwanger first overall. Bridgewater discusses comeback: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is vowing to come back from the freak knee injury that has knocked him out for the season.
Bridgewater’s first public remarks since he went down in practice Tuesday came in a statement through the team Thursday.
Bridgewater says he comes from “amazing DNA” and that he watched his mother beat breast cancer. He promises to attack his rehabilitation with the same energy.
Bridgewater says the Vikings have “great players and great leaders” who can help the team withstand his loss. Brady plays a half: With a “Deflategate” suspension days away, Tom Brady played the first half in the New England Patriots’ preseason finale against the New York Giants.
Brady completed 16 of 26 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception as the Patriots took a 6-3 halftime lead. He was sharpest on his fourth series, leading New England on a nine-play, 77-yard drive. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player hit six of seven passes and scrambled for 10 yards on the march, which ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Keshawn Martin.
Brady, 39, begins a four-game suspension Saturday for his role in the use of deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC championship game. The three-time Super Bowl MVP won’t be eligible to rejoin the active roster until Oct. 3, leaving the team in the hands of Jimmy Garoppolo. Redskins win Wednesday night: The stands were mostly empty, but the soggy show went on.
Mack Brown ran for 149 yards and a touchdown in heavy rain, leading visiting Washington to a 20-13 preseasonclosing victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.