San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman will speak virtually with reporters on Wednesday. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro talked to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday, though, and the two discussed the state of the country and the NFL's stance on social injustice.
After the horrific events that led to the death of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that followed, Sherman's 49ers pledged $1 million to social-justice organizations creating change. His head coach, Kyle Shanahan, spoke passionately last week to reporters for about 30 minutes, sharing his thoughts on the recent events that have impacted the nation.
"It's gone on way too long," Shanahan said of racism and social injustice. "I think now, I think white people are listening more than I've ever heard before, which is good. That's a starting point because it's happened too long. It's very clear, and I don't want to debate it anymore. No one does. Open your eyes."
Sherman is proud of how his team has responded.
"They've done a great job of just making sure that our players understand that we can have these conversations," Sherman told Branch. "We can start to try to find ways to tear down those walls and create more progress and more change. ... They were talking to us about how we can really put that ($1 million) to use in different ways. Whether it's a forum. Or going out in the community and educating people. Or flying to different places and doing that. They want to really invoke change. And they're really passionate about it. So it's been a cool discussion to be a part of."
While 49ers CEO Jed York voiced his opinion while pledging his team's money to help combat the problem, and did so again during a conversation with NFL Network, not all NFL owners have been so quick to tackle the topic.
Sherman points to one influential owner whose silence has been very noticeable — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. While York publicly expressed support for his players who chose to peacefully protest during the national anthem in 2016 and 2017, Jones demanded that his players stand for the pre-game ritual.
Stephen Jones, the son of Jerry and a Cowboys executive, even indicated in 2018 that any player refusing to be on the sidelines and standing during the national anthem might find themselves cut from the team.
"It's not pulling [NFL owners] like it is the rest of the country," Sherman said. "Because if it was, then they'd speak. Jerry Jones, especially, has no problem speaking up any other time about anything else. But when it's such a serious issue, and he could really make a huge impact on it with a few words, his silence speaks volumes."
Sherman isn't wrong. Jones is the NFL's most visible owner. He consistently makes himself available after games and frequently jumps on Dallas-area radio stations to speak his mind. Even the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, has admitted the league was wrong for not listening in the past and pledged support to those who wish to "speak out and peacefully protest."
Meanwhile, as Sherman points out, Jones remains curiously silent.
