Why do players take a knee?

[Kber]

My son plays football and I've observed two situations in which football players take a knee.

In one, the coach gathers the players around to listen to him, usually after the game. He's got something to say about the game they just played and he wants their respectful attention. Win or lose, it's a moment of reflection, rather than celebration. It re-centers the players on what's important - teamwork, sportsmanship, their best efforts.

The other time players take a knee is when you have a player down on the field. It doesn't matter if the player is from your team or the one of other guys. It doesn't matter whose fault the injury was or if the play in which the injury occurred was good for your team or not.

Everything stops. The clock, the activity on the field, talking and trash talking. The players go silent and go to a knee, waiting respectively and anxiously, hoping the injured person can walk off under his own power. Hoping he will be ok.

In either case, act of taking a knee says "pay attention- there is something more important than the game gong on here".

The NFL and other players have this ethic ingrained in them since childhood. They know the respect, anxieties, hope, and reflection inherent in that act.

I wish other people understood as well.

[Zoonart]

1. Thank you so much for posting this.

I come from a football family...players and coaches and refs. So many people have lost sight of how reverent this protest is, for the game and for the loss of young black lives that it draws attention to. THANKS.

[Kber]

18. You're very welcome!

I think even many fans don't fully get the significance but if you played, or watched your kid play, its almost so instinctual that it seems silly to explain it.

[tblue37]

2. K&R for visibility. nt

[yardwork]

3. Thank you for this.

[Not Ruth]

4. I thought that it was a form of self defense, i.e. non violent resistance to police brutality

You are not allowed to be attacked.

"The 2011 NFL Rules state in Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1(c): "An official shall declare the ball dead and the down ended … when a quarterback immediately drops to his knee (or simulates dropping to his knee) behind the line of scrimmage".

The 2011 and 2012 NCAA Rules state in Rule 4, Section 1, Article 3(o): "A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound his whistle or declare it dead … When a ball carrier simulates placing his knee on the ground." The same rule is used by the British American Football Association.

The 2011 CFL Rules state in Rule 1, Section 4: "The ball is dead … When the quarterback, in possession of the ball, intentionally kneels on the ground during the last three minutes of a half". The Statistical Scoring Rules, Section 5(e) states: "When a quarterback voluntarily drops to one knee and concedes yards in an effort to run out the clock, the yards lost will be charged under Team Losses. NOTE – No quarterback sack will be given in this situation.""

[Kber]

5. Yes - that too.

My point is the origins of taking a knee are rooted in respect.

[rocktivity]

11. "We were so poor that when my mother threw the dog a bone,

he had to signal for a fair catch."

-- Nispey Russell


rocktivity

[Iggo]

22. Lol..I miss him.

[needledriver]

6. Thank you for explaining this.

I had understood kneeling as an act of submission; you kneel to a king - or the hero of the story *refuses* to kneel to a villain, bad guy, Zod, whoever. Until you explained it the symbolism of kneeling as a protest had puzzled me.

[Kber]

7. In football context, kneeling during our national anthem says 2 things

One, our very national soul is injured ( by racism and bigotry).

Two, it is our hope that we will be ok. We will heal and walk tall again.

[Scarsdale]

8. Thank you for explaining.

This is a silent form of support for the young people who have lost their lives in gun fire. Especially the innocent young men. Since WHEN has it been considered insulting for a young black man to peacefully show his support for others? I applaud Colin Koepernick, and hope a team hires him soon. He has worked hard for his career, someone like the idiot tRump should shut his big ugly mouth.

[Soxfan58]

9. Yes!!!!!

Been involved with football for almost 50 yrs, and taken a knee is always a sigh of respect. Or downing the ball.

[Kber]

13. My son does kick and punt returns

The ability to take a knee on the field has undoubtedly saved him many injuries!

[SunSeeker]

10. Exactly. Taking a knee is not a symbol of disrespect. It is a sign of attention.

These players are using the only platform they have before the cameras, not during the game, to bring attention to racism. They are not protesting or disrespecting the flag or the national anthem.

Maybe if Trump ever took a knee in sports he'd understand that.

[Not Ruth]

14. What is wrong with protesting during a game?

[SunSeeker]

15. You think they should kneel when they're supposed to be running down the field?

I mean, at that point, it would not be so much a protest during a game as a boycott of the game.

There are other ways to protest during the game that may work, like wearing armbands, etc. But the league has rules on uniforms that players must agree to.

What are you suggesting?

[Kber]

19. Maybe if he were capable of respect, he'd understand.

[northoftheborder]

12. Thank you.

I appreciate the custom and rule of the meaning of "taking a knee." Not being a football fan, I had no knowledge of this. This makes the current actions even more meaningful.

[yallerdawg]

16. It's also a sign of respect.

At the end of a game, if the contest is virtually over, the winning quarterback is instructed to 'take a knee' and run out the clock.

They don't want to run up the score or add to stats, the game is over and they want to humbly acknowledge the victory. It's about the inherent sportsmanship of the game.

And now we all know these players are putting their lives and futures on the line to play the game?

Some dotardly jackasses have no respect or compassion, even in "the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

[Kber]

20. Exactly. There is more honor in the game of football than Trump can possible fathom.

[Sunlei]

17. because local police are getting away with murdering 'runners' & torturing people they don't 'like'

[janx]

21. kick