Typically, the press conferences that NFL players take part in during the week in the days leading up to games aren't all that exciting. Players aren't willing to show their hands much with regards to their team's game plans—and reporters don't have all that much to ask guys. So midweek press conferences don't usually result in headlines.
The Seahawks have changed that this week, though, thanks to the open and honest discussions that a couple of their players have had about the Black Lives Matter movement. On Wednesday afternoon, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman came out and shared his thoughts on Black Lives Matter with the media. Some of those thoughts didn't go over real well with people once they got out, but it was interesting to see Sherman talk about something other than just this week's game preparations during his press conference.
Late yesterday, Sherman's teammate Michael Bennett spoke with reporters, and he revealed that he respectfully disagrees with what Sherman thinks about Black Lives Matter. He wasn't actually asked about Sherman or Black Lives Matter, but he had some things on his mind and decided that he wanted to speak about them with reporters. You can watch him do it here:
Deadspintranscribed everything Bennett said, and you can check it out below:
I was reading Richard Sherman’s quotes yesterday. I would like to say I disagree with some of the things that he said yesterday. I think when people talk about the Black Lives Matter thing, I think he’s misinterpreting it, that black people kill black people, white people kill white people. People kill people every day.
Whether you agree or disagree with what Sherman and Bennett had to say this week, it's been interesting to see them speak about large social issues in the days leading up to their big game against the Packers on Sunday night. The Seahawks suffered a pretty devastating loss to the Rams on Sunday, so we wouldn't blame either of them for not wanting to speak about, well, anything. But the players both used their platforms to push an important conversation forward—and did so voluntarily. We can only hope that other NFL players and athletes as a whole will follow in their footsteps in the near future.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.
[via Deadspin]
