Although the Las Vegas Raiders have high hopes of ushering in a new era at Allegiant Stadium in style, the circumstances of this offseason have called for unprecedented action.
The restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have offered up its own set of challenges for teams preparing for the 2020 NFL season. On top of that, there are also the issues of racial injustice and police brutality that players continue to shine a light on.
The aftermath of the police’s shooting of Jacob Blake sparked a historic day in sports with teams across all major professional leagues cancelling their games. The Raiders also opted to cancel some practice sessions over the weekend.
According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, Raiders head coach Jon Gruden feels it is important to prioritize the physical and mental health of his players:
“That’s the No. 1 thing right now is looking into every man’s well-being,” Gruden said. “I’m worried about this virus. I know people that have lost their job over this virus. There are people that are struggling right now. And there is a lot of hatred out there and it really concerns me. I pray that everybody can open their hearts and get on the same team politically and socially. … And when we do come back together as a 53-man team, you’ll see the Raiders are going to do something to make life better for somebody.
“We are going to make an impact, not just protesting and not just tweeting. We are going to do something as a football team and we’re going to prove it. So the big thing is get away from the game here for a little bit, gather your thoughts and do some research. Don’t make an emotional statement, make an educational one. And I think our players are excited to do that.”
While Gruden has high expectations for the Raiders this season, he does not intend on pursuing it at the cost of sacrificing any off-field concerns players may have. The time off allowed the team as a whole to focus on ways to offer their support in helping to spark true change.
It had already been deemed a foregone conclusion that players would continue to make their voices heard and stances clear during the national anthem this season. However, the time has come for teams to start taking action rather than just offering their support through heartfelt sentiments.
