Carolina Panthers players on speaking up, COVID-19, Drew Brees and a time for change
The Panthers’ Player Impact Committee is focusing on two things — voter registration and improving police-community relations.
The group was first created in 2018 when Jerry Richardson sold the Panthers to David Tepper and is now prepared to get some work done as discussions about racial inequality and Black Lives Matter continue to escalate around the country. Three members of the committee — LB Andre Smith, TE Chris Manhertz and DE Stephen Weatherly — talked with local reporters Thursday, sharing their views on what the group would like to accomplish, their views on creating change and other topics, including COVID-19.
The players praised owner David Tepper and head coach Matt Rhule’s leadership in conducting a conversation and allowing players to speak and act as they choose. Rhule spoke with reporters Wednesday on the importance of listening to black players and staff.
Here are some of the comments the players had on what is going on today:
Impact that players can have
Smith: “I really want the people to know that we as athletes, we as Panthers, as professional athletes, that we are with you. I think a lot of celebrities as we’ve seen, some celebrities get their money and maybe forget a little bit. And, you know, lose an understanding of the fight that we’re fighting, but I want them to know that as a professional athlete me, Andre Smith, I completely understand the situation, I’m aware, and that I’m right there along with you, fighting the good fight and that I’m not afraid to use my voice or my platform to speak out.”
Weatherly on feeling like he can express himself: “I know for a fact that I’ve chosen to not say anything in fear of something bad happening to my career, but for Coach Rhule to come out and at least, unprompted say ... that ‘it is OK for you to go on and tweet whatever you want, get behind any message that you feel is right and that don’t fear that we’re going to say anything. You have your own platform, speak your truth.’ That speaks bounds. That was amazing and so with that, I just dove head in and instantly asked to join the Player Impact Committee.
“When you have someone like that behind you and the head coach is behind you, you can really do your job as an organization to facilitate change in both Carolinas.”
Working to improve racial inequality
Manhertz: “You got to do the work. I think a lot of things like this, especially in the age of social media and with people voicing their opinions. I think that’s where it starts, but that’s certainly not where it should end, and I would encourage people to actually take pride in doing the work. And, obviously, there’s many ways that people could go about that, whether it be donating to certain causes, whether it be actually going into these communities and helping to facilitate relationships or community relations between cops and people of color, things like that, is what I mean by doing the work, so that’s something that I definitely take pride in and I’m something that I’m excited to be a part of.”
Weatherly: “One thing that could help would be to bring uniformed police officers to already scheduled Panthers events in full uniform, and so that allows young children to see these police officers in the communities.
“Then when they happen to come by for a police thing in the community, they don’t see, Oh, that’s officer badge number 1234567, that’s officer Johnson. Right. She’s my T-ball coach or that’s officer Taylor, like, he is the football coach, so they have interactions with these people that’s more than just what’s portrayed on social media, which is never positive. ... The Next Generation already has a better foundation for healthy relationships with the police, and then vice versa. Right now they get to interact with people in the community.”
Being Black in the NFL and this moment
Smith on an experience he’s had with racism: “I was in South Carolina, moving into UNC, 2015 January, and this is my freshman year of college, with with my parents, car loaded up. We’re stopped to get gas somewhere in South Carolina, and this random truck passes by and they scream, ‘F-- you n-word’, and my dad got really mad. I’m like, I didn’t get mad, I was like, ‘There’s nothing I can do.’ That was my first introduction to the Carolinas.”
Manhertz on this moment in time: ”To be honest with you, it’s overwhelming. It’s overwhelming. In times likes these, especially with social media and the noise, you have to filter it for yourself, for your mental health. In my eyes, it’s not good to constantly watch negative things, you know, there’s always going to brew negative thoughts, in a way, so it’s definitely overwhelming, but it’s one of those things that, it’s definitely something that’s going to be written down in the history books and we’re going to be looking back at this moment decades down the line and time will tell if what we’re doing is going to be conducive for the big picture, or not.”
Weatherly: “My first three years in the league (I felt like I had to separate being black and a football player). It came with the first time (the Vikings) owners, the Wilf family, came in and addressed the team and said, ‘We support you.’ ... To come to another team (in) the same position, the owner (David Tepper) said, ‘I support you and I see what you experience.’
“I don’t have to choose anymore. I can be both. I can go out and and get these numbers and do what I can to help bring back a championship, but then also express my grievances as a black man, and those two shouldn’t interfere with the other. And it feels good, it allows me to play free or allows me to play less stressed, which in turn makes me a better football player.”
Drew Brees recent comments and apology
Smith: “Honestly, I really don’t like to get into other people’s lives too much, so honestly I haven’t read his apology; it looked long, I wasn’t about to read that thing, not going to lie. But his original statement, I think, I’m a very understanding person and I understand perspective, so from his perspective, if I had my father in the military, my grandfather and they served and everything like that, even though the military stands for fighting for freedom, fighting against injustice and everything. I can see why he feels like that, I can understand why he feels like that. ... I felt like the apology was just a little, ‘Y’all get off my back now’ type deal, but it is what it is.”
Manhertz: “I’m glad that he issued an apology. I think it takes character in a way to acknowledge that your wrong and acknowledge that they messed up in a way. Everybody has their own perspective, so I can’t really take that away from him, but it’s just a matter of acknowledging what’s going on and being empathetic. I think things like that kind of goes a long way in understanding things you may not have been exposed to or experienced.”
COVID-19 and the NFL
Smith: “I do believe we will have a season. I just think it depends on if we have fans or not. But honestly, I feel like everyone’s gonna be like, ‘Look at everyone out there protesting all close.’ We can have fans in the stadium, but that’s different. I think we’ll have a season, and we’ll get together probably training camp, late July. I 100% believe we will have a season, just no fans.”
Manhertz: “I think there’s a certain level of anxiety there, obviously, and assuming that there is an NFL season I’m sure there will be testing and things like that just to make sure everyone is OK and make sure everyone is healthy for the most part, but it’s definitely one of those things where it’s kind of hard because we’re in a situation right now where you could be anywhere and you could contract the virus and you may not even know until after it’s, definitely nerve-racking a little bit.”
Weatherly: “I hope when we come back, it is the same protocol. Get tested, once you’re clear, then you can be released back in the general population. That creates small bubbles or pockets of immunity between the teams, then we can have practices together. And then once you know things keep going, I think we will have football. Fans may or may not be a part of it depending on how the curve looks, but I do think that better logistics we’ll have team football being played on a professional level this upcoming season.
Update on facility
While NFL teams can officially have members of the coaching staff back in the facility starting Friday, the Panthers will not be one of the teams doing so. At this time, the Panthers do not have an exact date for when they will be back at Bank of America Stadium and are still working from home for now, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
REQUIRED READING
+ ‘We need more Panthers players to step up.’ NFL stars looking for justice, not attention
+ Luke Kuechly is joining the Panthers front office as a pro scout
+ ‘The best thing I can do is listen’: Matt Rhule on learning from others leading to change
+ Panthers will not return to Wofford for 2020 training camp, but don’t blame the team
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Carolina Panthers players on speaking up, COVID-19, Drew Brees and a time for change."
