When newly acquired linebacker Tahir Whitehead signed a three-year, $19 million contract with the Raiders this past offseason, he fulfilled a lifelong goal and bought his mother a house. The former Detroit Lion made waves this past week after criticizing Dallas Cowboys "golden boy" Dak Prescott for his comments regarding kneeling during the national anthem.
When asked about potential new rules regarding anthem protests/kneeling, Prescott told the media, "I never protest. I never protest during the anthem, and I don't think that's the time or the venue to do so. The game of football has always brought me such peace, and I think it does the same for a lot of people—a lot of people playing the game, a lot of people watching the game, a lot of people who have any impact of the game—so when you bring such controversy to the stadium, to the field, to the game it takes away. It takes away from that, it takes away from the joy and the love that football brings a lot of people."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QX0u9qlQKw
Whitehead took offense to those comments, taking to Twitter to chide Prescott for a stance that seemingly sides with the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones. In an offhanded jab, Whitehead mocked Prescott's squeaky clean image as the Campbell's Chunky Soup spokesperson.
He later subtweeted what many assume to be another shot at Prescott's towing the company line, instead of standing up for the rights of minorities.
Prescott's comments came after Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that if their players engage in protest during the national anthem, it might cost them their standing with the Cowboys organization. "If they want to be a Dallas Cowboy, yes," said Jones, when asked if players will stand for the anthem. "That's not an 'I' or 'me' thing. This is an organizational thing. We feel strongly about it. We don't think it's a controversy. We just think that's the way we do it. Jerry feels strongly about it. I think he's had a good feel for what our organization should be over 30 years. I think it's paid off for our players for the most part." The entire league has been a battle ground the last few seasons, ever since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during preseason games prior to the 2016-17 season to protest police violence against minorities. It first started when Kaepernick, who had recently lost his starting job to Blaine Gabbert, was spotting sitting during the 49ers third preseason game's anthem (although he also sat, while in street clothes, during their first two preseason games). After consulting with Army vet and former Seattle Seahawks center Nate Boyer, Kaepernick agreed to kneel out of respect. If you haven't been living under a rock while watching only episodes Golden Girls and ALF, you know the rest. Kap was criticized, other players followed suit, Papa John lost his shit, Kap sued the league, owners took their own positions, NFL ratings fell 9.7%, Jerry Jones went Trump-style on the other owners, league made rule changes, and so on and so on. So here we are. Two seasons after the first kneel, and the movement has become bigger than just police brutality, and injustice for minorities. It has become a "freedom of speech in the workplace" debate with our favorite gridiron heroes at the forefront. Kap got GQ Magazine's "Citizen of the Year." Papa John lost his empire (to go along with his marbles). Now, Prescott is taking heat for his own opinion and for speaking his mind. Problem is, many believe he isn't in his right mind to begin with. Solomon Jones, of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, went one step further and said it reminded him that "blacks sometimes adopt the mindset of our oppressors." While that may be a little extreme, Whitehead was within his own rights to counter. There doesn't seem to be a "winning side" in this debate, but it has forced our athletes to take a position. Whitehead took his, and — despite not having played a down for the Raiders — he made it known to all. Is this a good thing? I don't know. Controversy before you even get a chance to hit someone in the Silver & Black may not be the red carpet you want entering your first season. But, then again, it's the Raiders. The same team whose owner and former players are steeped in controversy.
Wearing the Silver & Black means being true to yourself, no matter the critics.Whether you're in "Beast Mode," like Marshawn Lynch, or outspoken about your religious faith, like starting quarterback Derek Carr, the Raider Way is to never apologize for what makes you "you." It's why owner Mark Davis still drives a white 1997 Dodge Caravan with personalized plates reading "R8HERS" as he hits the nearest P.F. Chang’s while wearing a fanny pack. If the owner is going still do shit like that, Whitehair's comments — in comparison — are far less outlandish or controversial. Better yet, it will draw him closer to many in the locker room who feel the same. When a team embraces the "Us Against the World" mindset, amazing things happen. Besides, our actions speak louder than words anyways, and Whitehair's actions speak volumes. Just ask his mother...
