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1.September 24th, 2017 in Green Bay. Many Bengals players wanted to take a knee prior to playing Green Bay, but not a single player did so. Multiple sources tell me there was an ‘emergency team meeting’ held with one goal, to make sure players did not kneel. A thread.
2.President Donald Trump launched an unforgettable response to NFL players who were kneeling during the national anthem in 2017. Former Bengals safety, George Iloka felt compelled to join the movement in week 3 of the NFL season.
3."It was weighing heavy on a lot of people's hearts and minds across the NFL, and across the nation particularly with African Americans. It wasn’t just me that felt some kind away about that."
4. Iloka voiced his convictions and multiple players tell me there was an informal, player-run meeting. and as they discussed their viewpoints with each other, it became clear that not all players were seeing eye-to-eye on the controversial issue at hand.
5. "It's almost like saying ‘Go be oppressed somewhere else and keep it out of my sight.’ That sort of thing. So, you know it was like, I understand that you don't get how we feel and we are not asking you to join us, but just stop telling us not to."-Iloka
6. Next I’m told by multiple former and current players that there was an ‘emergency team meeting’ called. It was not previously on the schedule.
7. This is an account from a guy who has chosen to remain anonymous.
“That was the first time he (Mike Brown) spoke to us on a Saturday… The bottom line is that he was begging us, please don’t kneel. He didn’t want the backfire that was going to come from it.”
“That was the first time he (Mike Brown) spoke to us on a Saturday… The bottom line is that he was begging us, please don’t kneel. He didn’t want the backfire that was going to come from it.”
8. Another player, who spoke with me off the record, echoed Iloka’s account of the emergency team meeting when Cincinnati Bengals owner, Mike Brown, made a blunt request.
"He pretty much says, ‘I don't want you guys kneeling.’ He said our fans will crush us."
"He pretty much says, ‘I don't want you guys kneeling.’ He said our fans will crush us."
9. It was at that moment when @George_iloka realized that he needed to make the difficult choice of standing up and speaking his truth to Mike Brown.
10. When asked about the decision not to kneel, another player tells @WLWT that if he knelt, he would not expect to get a good contract offer the following year and others had the same sentiment.
11. #Bengals dispute that Brown pressured guys not to kneel in a statement to WLWT: “Mr. Brown met with all players while the team was in Green Bay. A positive and open discussion ensued. Mr. Brown shared with players his preference, but said he was not directing them what to do.”
12. Instead, The players and coaches decided to link arms in solidarity during the national anthem that day to show unity with each other.
13. Former Bengal, Preston Brown was playing for the Bills in 2017. He did not take a knee that day either, and says it was the biggest regret of his football career, “I can’t be all this way black b/c they’ll get rid of you”.
14. If he would have taken a knee that day, @PB_Number2 says he would not have had the opportunity with the Bengals in 2018.
15. Every player I spoke with expressed their hope for nationwide understanding & change. As they each revisited that day in 2017, I could hear the frustration in some of their voices over feeling like they were not being heard. I appreciate them for opening up, and trusting me.
16. I asked the Bengals how they would handle protests in 2020, it seems they are still figuring that out. This is their statement: “We would like to allow time for our players and coaches to discuss before commenting.”
