Only one Steelers player covered up the name of a police shooting victim on his helmet

[JonLP24]

The Pittsburgh Steelers wore the name Antwon Rose Jr. on the backs of their helmets on Monday night to honor the victims of systemic racism. Rose, a 17-year-old Black teenager who was killed by East Pittsburgh police in 2018, was chosen after the team took a vote.

On Monday night, one Steelers player did not wear Rose’s name on the back of his helmet. Offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva covered up Rose’s name with tape and wrote Alwyn Cashe over it. Cashe was a Black US Army sergeant who served in Iraq and died of injuries he sustained while on tour there.

Wearing Rose’s name was supposed to be a show of team unity, but it appears that Villanueva decided to honor someone of his own choosing despite the team vote. Villanueva is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan as a Ranger, and earned the Bronze Star for rescuing wounded soldiers while under enemy fire.

Cashe, who was burned over 72 percent of his body while trying to rescue his fellow soldiers from a burning Bradley Fighting Vehicle, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star after he died of his injuries. There has been a multi-year effort to have him awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.

https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/alejandro-villanueva-only-steelers-player-to-cover-name-of-police-shooting-victim-on-helmet-152737375.html

I'm not sure what to say about this. I don't have an issue with Villanueva's choice but I don't think addressing injustices inside our own country takes away anything from veterans. I say this as a veteran.

[PRETZEL]

1. This had been talked about on several Steeler message boards

that I follow. No one had an issue with his decision.

To a man, every Steeler player and coach has supported his decisions to honor American and his Army compatriots.

[JonLP24]

2. I posted at a Cardinals board

I couldn't stand it because of all the right wingers. Too many there have bought into the idea that player protests disrespects the troops and I hope Villanueva hasn't bought into that line of thinking.

[Solomon]

3. Of course he has. Why else would he have gone unteam? He could wear the soldier's name on other

occasions without breaking ranks with his teammates.

[JI7]

4. Has Villanueva said anything about Trump's comments about Military Service members ?

[mnmoderatedem]

5. I don't get that

honoring a young victim who lost his life due to police racism and honoring a military hero who lost his life servicing his country are not mutually exclusive concepts.

[Delarage]

6. I read Steelers newsgroups

The response there has been pretty mixed. The pro-Villanueva people point out that Rose had stolen a gun prior to engaging in a drive-by shooting prior to the traffic stop and ran from police after the stop. On the other hand, he also seemed to be a good student at school so I'm not sure what the deal is--maybe he fell in with a bad crowd or something. Others suggest that the brother (Johnny Gammage) of a former Steelers player--Ray Seals--may have been a better choice to honor, since he had apparently not committed any crime other than driving his brother's Jaguar (DWB).

[crickets]

7. The team seemed fine with it, the coach was supportive. It's all good.

Villanueva may have gotten some pushback privately, because he has since apologized.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-alejandro-villanueva-covers-name-of-police-shooting-victim-on-helmet-with-name-of-military-veteran/

Villanueva apologized for his decision to stand alone, saying he felt "embarrassed" because it made "the organization look bad, my coach look bad, and my teammates look bad."

I don't think he meant any harm. I'm not sure I agree that it made anyone look bad, but private reactions from his team may have been less than positive. If that's the case, I respect that he owned it as a mistake afterward.

Tempest, teapot.

[rockfordfile]

10. I agree

[Delarage]

11. The apology

was for 2017 when he came out on the field alone during the National Anthem. I don't think he's spoken about the current situation yet.

[crickets]

12. Ah, my reading comprehension is poor. Thanks for the correction.

Also after seeing a little more background info, I am slightly less sympathetic. Let his team mates sort him out, I guess.

[RhodeIslandOne]

8. I believe he was the same guy who made a point to come out for the anthem a few years ago

.....when the league decided to leave it up to the individual players if they wanted to come out on the field.

[BannonsLiver]

9. Villanueva is really into making it all about himself

He’s a grand stander. Pulled the same “look at me” shit in 2016. Probably a Trump supporter.

[Delarage]

13. He has company now; Pouncey also taking off the name

The Steelers' center, Maurkice Pouncey, has also reconsidered wearing Rose's name after learning more about the situation that happened. He has been quite active over the years in improving police-community relationships, giving tickets to police officers to use to bring youth from the communities to Steelers games.

[link:https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-maurkice-pouncey-indicates-he-will-remove-antwon-rose-jr-s-name-from-his-helmet/|