Tepper is showing the
players in his locker room that he's eager to listen and get involved 鈥?when
it comes to social and racial injustice.Tepper supported the players' protests
and this week he accompanied Carolina players Torrey Smith and J.J. Jansen on a
"listen and learn" tour in Charlotte with law enforcement Authentic
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advocates. The group discussed solutions to what the Players Coalition said are
"systemic issues that lead to racially and ethnically disparate
over-incarceration" in North Carolina.The agenda topics included bail reform,
racial disparity regarding policing, segregation and the lack of educational
resources for youth in low-income communities of color."He's a person that
really cares about the community," said Smith, a Panthers wide receiver and
member of the Players Coalition. "It's not just about the flawed criminal
justice system, it is about need in general. And he's all over it. He's very
well educated in that field, and he cares a lot. I believe he is the perfect
owner for this city and the challenges it has."Smith's comments seem to
represent a 180-degree change in how the players view ownership 鈥?and it's only
been three months since the 61-year-old hedge fund founder purchased the
team.The Panthers previous owner and team founder Jerry Richardson erred on a
more conservative side."They just signed Eric Reid http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/stephon-tuitt-jersey ,"
said former Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams. "There's no way ... the
(previous) owner was going to touch Eric Reid."Players also no longer seem to
have a fear of retaliation if they express themselves.In September of 2017,
while Colin Kaepernick, Reid and others around the league were protesting racial
and social injustices, players on the Carolina sideline all stood. The closest
thing there was to a protest was by Julius Peppers, who remained in the tunnel
for one game while the national anthem played.Some players say they were
concerned about being punished by Richardson if they
protested.
Panthers safety Eric Ball had once raised his hand and one finger
after a black man was shot in Charlotte by police officers in 2016. He was cut
from the roster a few days later.The frustration among the players prompted a
meeting between Richardson and the team's captains about their stances on
protesting racial and social injustice. While quarterback Cam Newton later said
at the time the meeting "productive," no players protested on the sideline the
following week.That could change Sunday when the Panthers host the New York
Giants.Reid hasn't decided if he'll kneel or not, saying that he's "still
evaluating the scope of our country" and that he would make that decision
later.Based on his previous actions Womens
Javon Hargrave Jersey , Tepper 鈥?who was not made available for
comment through requests made to the Panthers 鈥?likely would have no problem if
Reid takes a knee.Tepper recently defended NFL players in an interview with CNBC
in September, saying the protests are about "justice for all." He also it makes
him aggravated when people call players unpatriotic for protesting, saying "it's
just wrong, it's dead wrong."Newton said Wednesday that Tepper has been
"everything that we could have asked for and more" as an owner.Jansen, the
team's long snapper, likes what he's seen too."It's very empowering for the
players that the issues that we are interested in, he's interested in
them http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/chukwuma-okorafor-jersey ,
too," said Jansen, the team's long snapper. "That's not to say that he will
agree with every player on every issue, but the fact that he finds them to be
important issues to learn about is important."Smith believes this is just the
beginning."This city will be better because of Tepper being the owner," Smith
said.AP Motorsports Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.Steelers vs.
Falcons, Week 5: First-half live updates, injury news and open thread The
Pittsburgh Steelers are back on the field in the 2018 regular season as they
prepare to face off against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5. Throughout the
game http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/vince-williams-jersey ,
be sure to check back here for score updates, injury news and any breaking news
from those on the sidelines following the team live. You can also follow along
in the Twitter feed below.For those wondering, you can enjoy some lively
commentary with the best Steelers fans across the globe in the open thread for
all BTSC members in the comment section below. Let’s remember to keep it clean,
respect everyone’s thoughts and ideas, and ultimately remember we’re all here
for the same reason—to root on the Steelers!So enjoy the game and be sure to
follow BTSC for all the latest news surrounding the team throughout the game and
afterwards!HERE WE GO STEELERS!A Twitter List by btsteelcurtain Custom San Francisco
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