Some Cleveland Browns fans ok being “sidetracked” by protests, some not

Cleveland Browns fans understand injustice, and many support the NFL joining the battle against systemic racism. Some do not.

Over 70-percent of the men in the NFL, including the Cleveland Browns, are athletes of color.

With worldwide protests against racial injustice now unfolding, fans of football are having to decide how they feel about their favorite pro sport being occasionally “interrupted” by this critical issue.

For example, in a popular Cleveland Browns FB group, a fan named Chris posted these three rhetorical questions about the issue:

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"Is it ok here to mention OBJ, Jarvis Landy, Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield, JC Tretter and Joel Bitonio all signed a letter to Congress calling for an end to qualified immunity for police?Is it ok to mention Kevin Stefanski took his kids to a march and, when asked about kneeling this year, said he’s encouraging players to ‘get in the arena’, ‘become part of the action’, ‘attach it to your name'”?Or is that worthy of removal and this group should be renamed “Cleveland Browns fans who ignore Browns involvement in the largest civil rights movement in the history of the world”?"

Only took three comments to shut this Browns social warrior down.

First response, from Geoff: “Thank you for sharing!!”

Second response, from Geoff again: “We don’t leave our values at the door of being sports fans.”

Third response, from Nicholas: (who fully demonstrates why we’re still struggling with race issues in America) “How about we play football and not get sidetracked by civil rights issues involving a lifelong criminal and drug addict???”

Nope. Blowing the whistle and tossing the flag, Nicholas.

Respectfully, your myopic answer proves you’re missing the point of these protests and this critical American issue and how all of it affects the Cleveland Browns, the NFL, and every one of its fans. Including you, sir.

If that’s a choice, it’s yours to make, my fellow American.

If not, consider this: nobody’s getting “sidetracked” here. This issue’s become front and center.

Systemic racism affects all Americans of color. And even though we Browns fans only see burnt orange and seal brown, there are athletes of color playing pro football in Cleveland who are directly and indirectly impacted by ongoing racial injustice (along with millions of others).

And for decades they’ve been trying to tell us that America still struggles with race!

But we keep metaphorically turning up the car stereo to drown out the alarming sounds this broken engine’s making. Which means we’re either in total denial or we’re hoping America’s systemic racism issue solves itself without having to take the time and effort to put her up on the racks and take a look.

Except troubles never disappear like that. In fact, we’re seeing that it’s actually a great way to blow the whole dang engine.

So instead of making the same mistakes many did by mocking, ignoring, and blackballing Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful kneeling protest (mistakes that we’re now realizing were based on outdated thinking), as Browns fans, let’s encourage this important conversation to finally happen.

If America collectively takes a knee and truly listens to these protests and begins to adjust U.S. laws and policies to eliminate racial injustice in this country, things like Browns football can become the focus again and go pleasantly uninterrupted.

But if America continues to downplay these protests of systemic racism and dismiss them as annoying distractions to their football (talking to you, Nicholas, and millions of others like you) then we’re going to be “sidetracked” by this American life and death issue for a mighty long time.

And that affects all of us as a nation on and off the gridiron.

This is no fun to deal with, change rarely is, but we Browns fans are used to seeing uncomfortable situations through to the end. Let’s act accordingly.

We can choose to show Americans of color that we Browns fans are listening and consider this issue more (or at least “as”) important as Cleveland football. Tough given our killer roster, but it is.

We do this now and it says a whole lot about who we are as a fan base and as a community, that we’re willing to listen and adjust our American game plan to fully include our friends of color, who make up over 70-percent of the NFL athletes we respect and admire. And who are also our personal friends.

But if we don’t do this (or gripe about it like we’re the weakest link) then it will no doubt be remembered that we failed to step up now and be proper allies, and that won’t be easily forgiven. Nor should it be.

I’ll put my money on Cleveland Browns fans for the “over” on this bet all day long.

Final note: Once I had typed out my comment to Chris’ FB post, I pressed enter and was told by FB that the post had already been taken down.

Whoops – guess there are still plenty of Cleveland fans who DO want to ignore Browns involvement in the largest civil rights movement in the history of the world.

That you?

Next. AFC North will be the best division in football in 2020. dark

Or are you okay with pausing football for just a sec to tip your hat to the leadership we’re currently witnessing by Browns coaches and players of ALL colors…

That’s your choice to make, my fellow Browns fan.

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