Whether it’s the Rooney Rule, how the league handled the Kaepernick situation, or the fact that there’s only ever been one black team president in the 100 year history of the NFL, it’s no secret that the National Football League isn’t a shining example of diversity or inclusion. The fans know this, the players know this, and god knows the owners who give Goodell his marching orders and have final say on all hiring firing decisions with their teams know this.
But up until this week, players of color didn’t have a smoking gun they could hang their hats on. They were missing that crucial piece of evidence they could point to and say “see, we’ve been telling you this for years”. Something so glaringly obvious that even the most staunch NFL apologist wouldn’t be able to defend.
Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could see that the NFL is lily white at the ownership level, front office, and coaching ranks. Unfortunately owners could always fall back on the “best person for the job” response when yet another BIPOC candidate would inevitably be passed over for some green around the gills quality control coach that owners hope is the next Sean McVay.
Then Wednesday June 2nd rolled around.
Earlier this year ABC News published a report on a neuropsychologist who worked with the NFL on their neurological impairment case with former players (because god forbid we actually call it what it really is, CTE, or brain trauma). In the report, it was alleged that the NFL used “race norming” practices when reviewing claims from former players. For those unfamiliar with the term, it essentially boils down to the assumption that Black players started out with a lower cognitive function than their peers. Just a reminder, we’re in the year 2021, and not 1921.
This story bounced around message boards, and news outlets for some time until finally the NFL had no choice but to acknowledge the report head on with prepared statements this week. The Associated Press release of the NFL spokesperson’s remarks can be found here.
Initially the allegations were thrown out by the judge overseeing the settlement between the league and players suffering from neurological impairment. However, after several players filed civil rights lawsuits, families dropped off 50,000 petitions at the courthouse, and medical experts began to speak out, the league had little choice left but to address the report head on.
As shocking as the statement from the league is, as shocking as the report from ABC was, as ridiculous as statements coming from Goodell’s mouth like “we [the league] believe black lives matter” are, you have to ask yourself one thing: are you surprised? Is anyone truly shocked to find out that the same league that fought tooth and nail to bury any kind of links between head trauma and CTE, dragging the matter out in courts for years while players suffered waiting for access to proper medical care would still be using practices like “race norming”? If so then let me introduce you to my friend the Nigerian Prince who has a lucrative business offer for you…
The problem is this has been going on for decades. It just took until 2021 for a piece of evidence so damning to finally see the light of day. So enough with the platitudes. Enough with the “we’ll do better next time” canned responses. Do better now. The simplest way to view this is to ask yourself whether the decision to include “race norming” in the screening process would have been made if whatever committee the NFL put together to oversee it was diverse in any way shape or form. I’d venture a guess that would be a resounding no.
Then again this is the same league where late Texans owner Bob McNair referred to players as “inmates” in 2017, apologized, then went out of his way to tell the Wall Street Journal that he regretted apologizing the very next year. The NBA stripped Donald Sterling of his franchise for a similar outburst. Meanwhile the NFL turned a blind eye to the matter. But thank god they did something about players kneeling during the anthem.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner