Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys could start protesting.
The Milwaukee Bucks kicked off a sports-wide protest movement yesterday when they decided to not play in their Game 5 matchup against the Orlando Magic in the NBA Playoffs, citing frustration after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The movement has started to trickle down to the NFL, as several teams have canceled practice today as both a sign of protest and a desire to help their frustrated players voice their feelings.
Before the Dallas Cowboys can unveil their shiny new offense, they need to address these protests in some fashion. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy claimed that it’s almost impossible to focus on football and use it as a form of escapism, as the problems currently festering in American society are so unsightly that joining those protesting in the name of racial justice and police accountability is the only option left.
"Sports is supposed to be a great escape, but you can’t escape what’s going on right now. We’ve got major, major challenges in our society right now that need to be addressed." https://t.co/pjZbatg3uD
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 27, 2020
The Cowboys are still practicing today, but they’re doing so with a heavy heart
The shooting of Blake hits home for McCarthy. The son of a former police officer in Pittsburgh, McCarthy made his name as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, a team located about 2.5 hours away from Kenosha.
While canceling practice might be more of a therapeutic exercise that helps players vocalize their feelings rather than a form of protest, the Cowboys might need to do something when the season starts to show that what is happening in the country right now is simply not acceptable.
Cowboys practice Thursday, but Mike McCarthy says ‘you can’t escape’ what’s happening in the country right nowhttps://t.co/oZFQc6NoTh
— SportsDay Cowboys (@dmn_cowboys) August 27, 2020
Even though the Bucks stunned the country by boycotting, there is still a significant chunk of this country that won’t be swayed by this demonstration. The most recognizable brand in American sports pulling off some huge demonstration during the regular season, however, might finally cause a good chunk of fans in this country to wake up and realize how dire the lack of police accountability is.