On Sunday afternoon, players from the St. Louis Rams wanted to show their support for Mike Brown and the protesters in Ferguson. A collective of Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, Tavon Austin, Chris Givens, and Stedman Bailey entered the field with their hands up and heads down, acknowledging the struggle and sadness in the Ram’s state of Missouri. Rams' Head Coach Jeff Fisher and the NFL had no clue of the player's planned gesture of protest, which resulted in both cheers and protest from fans and organizations.
The incident obviously lit a fire under this bunch of talented players as they tore the Oakland Raiders apart 52-0. This was the largest margin of victory in recent Ram’s history. The NFL likes to stay out of controversy but clearly the sad incidents surrounding Ferguson these past few weeks have unified this group of players. The move immediately brought harsh criticism from the St. Louis Police Officers Association stating that the statement was “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory” and demanded that the league "throw a flag" on the players.
The NFL, already reeling from the reversal of the Ray Rice decision, has stated that no players will be fined for making the gesture.
Read the full story, including the statement from the St. Louis Police Officers Association, here
