Arian Foster comments on Colin Kaepernick situation
Arian Foster is one of the more thoughtful players in the NFL, and he has weighed in on the firestorm surrounding Colin Kaepernick.
In the aftermath of Colin Kaepernick choosing to sit down during the national anthem last Friday night, many NFL players have been asked for comment. Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster has commented on similar issues of race and violence in the past, so it’s not surprising he was asked for his thoughts on the situation.
Via Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald, Foster said his No. 1 issue with the rash of police shootings across the country is the lack of value granted to the lives lost. He also cited anger that officers who fire their weapon are rarely prosecuted, while a mug shot of a victim with a criminal record is quickly used by news outlets.
Starting with Kaepernick specifically, Foster went into more detail.
"“I don’t necessarily see that as a solution to anything,” Foster said. “This is me talking. This is Arian talking. If that’s what he felt, that’s his form of protest, I support his right to protest. Those are his thoughts, his opinions.”"
"“I understand 100 percent what he’s doing. He’s frustrated, just like me. He’s just like my brother. He’s just like my cousins out there. He’s frustrated. It’s hard seeing people get murdered and killed without repercussions.”"
"“I speak my mind,” Foster said. “I’m active in the communities. I try to educate young brothers that are in gangs and victims of what people don’t understand — this is a systemic problem that’s been going on for generations."
Foster’s thoughts about police shootings, and their aftermath, are very common in the general public. But he clearly doesn’t see Kaepernick’s national anthem protest as much of a solution, and it’s not something he would do.
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Kaepernick deserves credit for willingly taking about the reason for his decision, and backing it up by saying he will keep sitting during the national anthem. But without some follow-up action for the cause, which he’s quite frankly late to championing in the bigger picture, his on-field protests will ring hollow.
Foster has brought some rational thought to this discussion, without using vitriol to call Kaepernick out. That’s a sentiment we all should get behind.