Matt Patricia, a 45-year-old white man raised in central New York City, and Trey Flowers, a 27-year-old black man from Huntsville, Alabama, spoke in the spring following the death of George Floyd.
The two come from different places, different perspectives and different backgrounds, but they work together, Patricia as the Detroit Lions coach, Flowers as the team’s defensive lineman. Patricia wanted to know what he could do to help. Flowers made a basic request.
“Listen,” Flowers said.
The comment weighed on Patricia as video emerged Sunday of Jacob Blake being shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Patricia wanted to do as asked after the Lions returned from a scheduled day off Monday.
football drill without talking to my team.”" data-reactid="24">“I didn’t feel good about training,” said Patricia. “I didn’t feel good doing a football drill without talking to my team.”
So he organized a team meeting, 100 players, coaches and weird staff. Patricia spoke briefly, then opened the debate. This resulted in four hours of what many Lions players described as “heavy”, “emotional” and “powerful”.
Shortly after, the players were in the locker room, still talking, when a consensus was reached. No one wanted to practice. The most important thing they could do was set aside an afternoon of preparation work and instead use their collective chair to tell the world that change, real change, has to come.
And the first change is to listen to each other.
In doing so, the Lions became the first professional sports team in memory to cancel practice for reasons of social justice.
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers speaks out about social and racial injustice after Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer in Wisconsin. (Carlos Osorio / AP)
“We cannot be silent,” said Flowers. “We cannot remain silent. It cannot be us who are going through our ordinary day. So today we are united.
Flowers wanted to keep the message simple because he knew how the cancellation of the practice could be viewed. He wasn’t wrong. Almost immediately, social media and local sports radio sparked a predictable row over these kinds of issues.
It’s similar to the aftermath of a mass shooting, whether at a concert or at a school, where too many people retreat to their corners and shout the same old arguments. Nothing gets done, and it’s only a matter of time before the next one happens.
This cannot be the way to go. Communication, perspective and respect must be part of it.
“One thing we understand about America and the people in America is that the narrative can change,” said Flowers. “We understand… we could walk on toes, you could ruffle feathers, but for change to happen, for something to happen, someone has to be uncomfortable.
football,” Flowers continued. “We understand that someone is going to try to screw the narrative, try to get the message lost, but we are going to try to stay focused on the message.”" data-reactid="45">“Everyone inside these walls understands that, understands… the backlash that can come with it, how the media might describe it, how the fans might portray it, how they say it doesn’t. there is no room for politics in football, ”continued Flowers. “We understand that someone is going to try to screw the narrative, try to lose the message, but we’re going to try to stay focused on the message.”
His message is to talk to each other and try to understand each other. In Detroit, the players did. The impact has been considerable.
Taylor Decker, a white offensive lineman, said he was impressed by the story an African-American teammate shared about his mother calling him every day to make sure he made it through all 23. minutes drive from the Lions training center to his apartment. She fears that with an out-of-state license and number plate, everything could go wrong.
Decker, a native of Ohio, said he also had an out-of-state license, as well as an exploded light on his car. But “not for a second”, he “cares about coming home” every day.
“Hear the pain in the voices of the guys I care about, the guys I love,” Decker said. “Guys who are great men, great fathers, great husbands. They shouldn’t have to go through this.
football has allowed him to listen to all different perspectives for years now — not just racial, but geographic, socioeconomic, political and so on. It’s opened eyes and changed opinions. His wife, Kelly, recently apologized for criticizing Colin Kaepernick a few years ago, and together, they made a $1.5 million donation to social justice initiatives at their shared alma mater, the University of Georgia." data-reactid="65">Matthew Stafford, the starting white quarterback, said football has allowed him to listen to all perspectives for years – not just racial, but geographic, socio-economic, political and more. It opened my eyes and changed opinions. His wife, Kelly, recently apologized for criticizing Colin Kaepernick a few years ago, and together they donated $ 1.5 million to social justice initiatives in their joint alma mater, the ‘University of Georgia.
Tuesday was no different.
“To feel what my teammates are going through hurts and it hurts a lot,” said Stafford. “When the people who are dear to you go through things like this, it is difficult. I wish America, I wish everyone could participate in these calls or participate in these meetings. I feel so lucky and privileged to be a part of it.
football, where all kinds come together and try to form a team. Not everyone is surrounded by such diversity, including the diversity of opinion and experience. " data-reactid="68">Of course, not everyone can. Not everyone works in football, where all the guys get together and try to make a team. Not everyone is surrounded by such diversity, including the diversity of opinions and experiences.
Patricia, on the other hand, understands the power in this and, perhaps, by skipping a practice, he can get others to seek out these conversations in any way they can.
“If it helps a person, it’s worth it,” Patricia said.
Yes, it was only one team and one practice. There are no simple solutions or easy ways to follow. The situation is complex. Entrenchment is everywhere, minds more closed than open hearts. No one here is naive.
Still, they hope the central message of skipping the practice can avoid being twisted, turned around, and treated like a political piñata.
“It can be so simple,” Patricia said. “Listen.”
Is it too much to ask?
