Desean Jackson’s punishment and what it says about the NFL [LOCKED]

Submitted by bsand2053 on July 12th, 2020 at 3:22 PM

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29442385/eagles-penalize-desean-jackson-conduct-detrimental-team%3fplatform=amp

 

An undisclosed fine and a zoom call with a holocaust survivor.  I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.  
 

Malcolm Jenkins’ response was similarly pathetic.  Basically called it a distraction.

So someone kneels during the anthem and can’t get a fucking job but Desean Jackson can go full Nazi and and life goes on.  
 

It’s all performative.  Goodell’s hostage tape apology, changing the Washington team’s name, the donations.  

Same with the NBA.  Watch what happens if a player tries to put “I stand with Hong Kong” or “Free the Uighur” on his jersey.  Adam Silver won’t be quite so principled as then.

AlaskanYeti

July 12th, 2020 at 5:06 PM ^

He’s making excuses for people who are awful people. He says he’s not making excuses for them multiple times but right after goes to explain why they’re not at fault. Both Jacksons are grown men and have no one to blame but themselves. 

Joined: 11/27/2012

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Bo Harbaugh

July 12th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^

He's making excuses for people who are saying awful things, and I find it absurd as well.  However, for someone who decries "cancel culture" as much as yourself, I'm surprised you would extrapolate their incendiary commentary to a holistic examination of their character.

You choose not to make this same leap to judgment with POTUS, however, although you are always ready to defend his commentary.

Joined: 08/03/2019

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lhglrkwg

July 12th, 2020 at 7:05 PM ^

Sounds like Whitlock is definitely giving a defense of this stuff but tacking on " but I'm not defending them!" to make it ok.

They’re athletes doing what they’ve been taught. They’re mimicking the behavior that the mainstream and social media are rewarding.

Damn. Guess I missed the lesson on how anti-semitism is totally cool Jason. 

Joined: 07/03/2008

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NFG

July 12th, 2020 at 3:39 PM ^

Rich athletes have illogical views on history and foreign policy, this and other breaking news tonight at 11.

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NotADuck

July 12th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^

No there is no excuse, but I remember watching HBO's Hard Knocks a few years ago (Rams first season in LA) and one of their players (defensive end Willaim Hayes) didn't believe in Dinosaurs...

They took him to a museum and he was in disbelief the whole time.  Saying things like "this isn't real" and "I don't believe it."  After seeing that, and also hearing other athletes like Kyrie Irving believe the Earth is flat, I am firmly in the camp that doesn't care what any player in any sport has to say about anything.  Shoot, there are some players out there that have been pushed through school, can barely read, and people think athletes should be more involved in political discussions and at the forefront of change?

Nah I think I can form my own ideas and try to enact change through protest, conversation, or voting.

https://theundefeated.com/features/noted-quoted-the-best-moments-from-episode-2-of-hard-knocks/

^ This article parses through the episode of Hard Knocks I mentioned for more examples of the brilliance of professional athletes.  Not just William Hayes.

Joined: 12/20/2013

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Hotel Putingrad

July 12th, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^

Shoot, there are some players out there that have been pushed through school, can barely read, and people think athletes should be more involved in political discussions and at the forefront of change?

You seem to be saying their voices should be disregarded because of their profession. I don't agree with the "shut up and dribble" crowd because people should be heard as citizens worthy of their right to expression. A cable news pundit or some other talking head shouldn't be listened to because of their similarly high profile job and it's higher degree of "seriousness." A lot of those people are dumb too.

Joined: 12/10/2014

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Bo Harbaugh

July 12th, 2020 at 3:44 PM ^

It says the Eagles and ownership were in a terrible spot after letting Riley Cooper off with slap on the wrist a few years ago after dropping the N-bomb and didn't want to be chastised for creating a double standard - even if the times are much different now.

While there is heightened sensitivity around racism these days, compared to when Cooper went drunken racist moron, the Eagles ownership didn't have much flexibility here - a precedent was set.  Also, with the Eagles leadership being Jewish, they would be deemed biased and hypocritical if they went harder on Jackson than Cooper.

If your premise is that $ and current societal trends matter more than principles when it comes to the media, business, and society in general - congratulations and welcome to the grown up world. 

 

Joined: 08/03/2019

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Wolverine Gator

July 12th, 2020 at 5:55 PM ^

I'll start off by saying that I'm a Steelers fan and have no love for the Eagles.

I actually think the Eagles might have applied the roughly correct level of discipline in both cases. There might be an argument for a bigger or smaller fine and maybe a team mandated suspension from games, but ultimately, they probably hit about right. I outright condemn racism and anti-semitism; its never okay in any form. I think in both cases that the individuals did't have a history of making very public idiotic, horrible statements (that I know of off the top of my head). They should absolutely be punished, but does that punishment need to be losing their jobs (and potentially their careers?) or can they receive a hefty punishment and have to learn why they were stupid. 

Short version: stupid loves to be stupid. If somebody is truly a racist or anti-semite, they'll be a repeat offender and then hammer them. But maybe we can give people a little benefit of the doubt and try to rehabilitate and educate on the first offense?

Joined: 02/04/2009

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Bo Harbaugh

July 12th, 2020 at 3:57 PM ^

Eagles were screwed either way. 

Suspend him, and it's a double standard for not going after Riley Cooper for dropping the N bomb on tape (not to mention Eagles ownership is Jewish, so they look even more biased if punishing more harshly for anti-semitism). 

Let him off easy, as they did, and they play into the cynicism that minorities get a free pass to be racist while whites are being targeted by the PC police. 

By not handling the Cooper situation correctly a few years back, the Eagles locked themselves into not being able to deal with Jackson appropriately (ie, harsher punishment).

Joined: 08/03/2019

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pugboy

July 12th, 2020 at 3:45 PM ^

Pro Sports are becoming a role models for "People finding out they have better things to do with their lives than watch Millionaires and Billionaires telling them to kiss their asses while giving them lots of money(tickets, concessions, souvenirs, parking, TV, etc)time, and attention because they are relevant somehow to our lives".

Thank you pro athletes and owners for help me break the addiction.  I hope your worthless college degree can get you a job someplace other then a fast food joint.

 

Joined: 10/22/2010

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RGard

July 12th, 2020 at 10:12 PM ^

I hear you.  The Steelers killed it for me when they kept Roethlisberger, but un-assed Holmes.

Sexual predator gets to keep his job, but the dope smoker gets sent to the Jets.

I'm all for redemption, but go redeem yourself with some other team.  

Art Rooney would not have done that.

-

Joined: 10/20/2014

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bronxblue

July 12th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^

Honest question - do you believe there is some fundamental difference between college and pro sports?  Because there are a lot of millionaires ad billionaires attached to college athletics.

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DonBrownsMustache

July 12th, 2020 at 4:04 PM ^

I’m still waiting for other NFL players and professional athletes to speak out against what he said.  Exactly no outrage from other players.  I wonder why? ?

Joined: 07/21/2019

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LV Sports Bettor

July 12th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^

Everyone is on pins and needles right now. There's nothing to gain from saying anything unfortunately. 

Even more pathetic was the uproar over Drew Brees for saying he chooses to stand during the anthem to honor his grandfathers who fought in wars. 

Whole thing is ridiculous and so easy the double standards. Sad part is media refuses isn't helping things out either.

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