Done With The NFL

Imagine being so passionate about something that you created and operated a website about this topic for 23 years. 23! I mean, what websites can you think of from around 1997 that are still active today? Anyway, you spent countless hours establishing content, searching for videos, and moderating a message board for like-minded fans. Welcome to McMillen and Wife's Pittsburgh Steelers website! I only recently discovered this gem with nearly 50 years of videos and descriptions of Steelers games. It really is a fun place to explore, particularly if you want to watch complete Steelers games from the last few decades. The site also includes pictures of McMillen and his wife and various family members wearing Steelers gear. Basically, it's safe to assume that McMillen and wife are passionate Steelers fans. Well, until Monday. 

Did McMillen decide that he finally had enough of non-guaranteed contracts for players? NFL players have the shortest careers of any of the big four American sports leagues in part because of the high injury rates including head injuries. Was McMillen fed up with NFL players getting arrested (and sometimes suspended) for domestic violence, yet still being allowed to play again? You know, I'll let McMillen explain for himself.

Yes, it's the over-politicization of football which is why McMillen is done and not coming back. I'm sure that McMillen is tired of Presidents and former Presidents attending Super Bowls and even conducting the coin toss to start these games. Maybe he doesn't like Super Bowl-winning teams visiting the White House. Perhaps he's tired of military members and veterans being honored during every game. You know, it's possible that McMillen is absolutely distraught about the NFL and the Steelers raising awareness and funds for cancer, autism, veterans, and other causes. That's too political for McMillen. I mean cancer is terrible. I don't want to think about cancer when all I want to see is if the Steelers can beat the Browns. He probably also hated seeing Ryan Shazier on TV during Steelers games at various points over the last few years. He's fortunate to walk again. Why get reminded about that when all that you wanted was a reprieve from the realities of life?

It's not any of these things though, is it? It's about players trying to have a voice and creating awareness and change. I mentioned a few years ago that one of my fantasy football leagues ended because, as a veteran, one of the members didn't like the protest by some players against the flag. However, as we've seen even more clearly over the last few months, it's not really about the flag. Imagine being so upset about the Steelers holding a banner that says Steelers Against Racism that you can't watch the NFL anymore. Too political. 

Is McMillen so distraught about the Steelers having stickers on their helmets in memory of Antwon Rose II, that he refuses to watch TJ Watt, Bud Dupree, and the Steelers' pass rush? I don't want to get into the Rose case too much, because I'll admit that I don't know as much about it as I should. However, our country was founded with a judicial system and the right to a fair trial. Even if someone is presumed guilty of a crime, even a heinous crime, that doesn't give the police the authority to shoot an unarmed suspect.

I'm sure that McMillen has his reasons for not wanting to watch the Steelers or the NFL anymore. It could be a variety of all of this. Maybe it's as simple as realizing that he spent too much time on football and wants to enjoy quiet by doing jigsaw puzzles of scenic landscapes instead. That's not political and definitely provides a reprieve from the realities of life. In that case, good for him. 

Assuming that McMillen isn't watching the NFL anymore because of what he views as politics, he's not alone. If you're on Twitter and Facebook, you'll see plenty of posts criticizing the players. Apparently, as Mike Pence showed us, peaceful protests are fine and encouraged as long as they don't interrupt sporting events or are political.

Look, I'm not going to pretend that I understand what many players are going through. As a white male, I don't have the same fear and experiences that others have. Maybe you believe that the media is blowing things out of proportion. That it's just a few bad apples. I know that nothing I'm going to write here is going to change your mind. However, read what retired Pittsburgh Steeler Ramon Foster wrote just after the death of George Floyd. Listen to the incredible actor Giancarlo Esposito in the 30:00 to 37:00 mark of this interview. So when the Steelers hold up a banner or when NBA, MLB, and even NHL games are postponed in protest, it's hard to think that it's just isolated incidents. It's players saying enough is enough, and that change is needed in this country.

So if players standing arm-in-arm before kick-off, staying in the locker room during the national anthem, or even kneeling during the anthem is so political that you can't watch Patrick Mahomes throw touchdown passes, celebrate a Steelers win, or even feel awful for Steelers offensive lineman Zach Banner needing surgery and ending his season because it adds to your stress, keep working on those jigsaw puzzles.