TAMPA, Fla – Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians continued a back-and-forth with DeMaurice Smith on Friday after the NFLPA executive director said Arians was “terribly misinformed about the story of the protest “.
The Arians on Thursday recalled the race riots in York, Pa., In 1968 and 1969, when dozens were injured and two were killed. The Arians were 16 at the time and remembered seeing the National Guard walking up and down its street.
“Protesting doesn’t do shit, in my opinion,” said Arians, who instead pleaded with his team to act. “I’ve seen him since 1968.”
Black-smith posted a tweet later Thursday with a photo of former US Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who died in July.
“Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but it is clear that he is woefully uninformed about the history of the protest both in sport and in America,” Smith’s tweet said. The 67-year-old Arians took offense to Smith’s post on Friday.
“Yeah, I have a story,” Arians said. “It could be a little longer than hers.”
As a Virginia Tech quarterback, Arians was the first white player to share with a black teammate – James Barber, one of two black players on the team, and father of Ronde and Tiki Barber – and he has long credited his upbringing in a diverse community for his progressive positions on racial issues.
Arians is also the only current NFL coach with a black offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and running game coordinator / assistant head coach.
The Arians have told his players he will back them if they choose to miss or move a practice if they can devise a plan to bring about a change, adding that the Bucs’ player-led social justice committee must stand get together this week to discuss ideas.
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