Nine NFL teams cancel practice in response to Jacob Blake shooting; appeal for quarterbacks to take greater role

The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Washington Football Team all chose to not practice Thursday in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake New Jersey: Empty practice fields made for loud and powerful statements at nine facilities across the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Washington Football Team all chose to not practice Thursday in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. “If we’re going to put pressure on the people in the country who make change, for accountability, it’s got to start with them.” The Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers also had practice or walkthrough sessions. “I think the biggest thing right now is to … listen to my African-American teammates and friends that aren’t even in football,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, “just to get a better understanding to educate myself.” Following morning meetings and a walkthrough, Cleveland’s players met as a group for nearly an hour and decided to cut their practice in half — one hour on the field, the other inside discussing ways to make impactful change.