Like many Americans who have been stopped in their tracks by the video of the shooting death of a Louisiana man being detained by police last night, a number of NFL players are processing some raw emotions right now.
And a number of them have taken to social media to express their frustrations that the death of Alton Sterling at the hands of Baton Rouge police officers.
Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong has been among the most vocal, with a stream of consciousness and replies to fans who encouraged him to “stick to football.”
Likewise, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick referred to the shooting in strong terms, saying: “This is what lynchings look like in 2016!”
Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu, who spent his college career in Baton Rouge at LSU, expressed a sense of resignation, saying: “The violence is not new, it’s the cameras that are!”
There’s good reason for a sense of frustration among these players, and anyone else who has seen the video today. And while the NFL generally strives for a sanitized, controversy-free image, a number of players are willing to give voice to their thoughts.