PITTSBURGH — Steelers captain Maurkice Pouncey on Thursday announced his intention to make his own choice about what name to put on the back of his helmet, becoming the second player to break from the team’s decision to wear the name of police shooting victim Antwon Rose Jr. on helmets for the 2020 season.
“I was given limited information on the situation regarding Antwon, and I was unaware of the whole story surrounding his death and what transpired during the trial following the tragedy,” Pouncey, a vocal advocate for the police communities in Pittsburgh and in his Florida hometown, wrote in an Instagram post. “I should have done more research to fully understand what occurred in its entirety.
“… Make no mistake, I am against racism and I believe the best thing I can do is to continue helping repair relationships between the police and their communities.”
Pouncey was not made available by the team Thursday to further discuss his social media statement.
Steelers cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick on Thursday said players “talked briefly” about the helmets and a name, but the decision to put Rose’s name on the helmets was “mostly made by everyone upstairs” and not through a team vote.
“It was mostly made from people upstairs and everything else like that,” Fitzpatrick said Thursday. “Don’t know exactly who. Don’t know exactly how. But we did. We knew that we were going to have somebody on the back of our helmets, and it wasn’t exactly clear on what it was going to be. It was mostly made by everyone upstairs.”
Steelers president Art Rooney II on Thursday issued a statement saying the team respects individual decisions made concerning social justice initiatives.
“As an organization, we respect the decisions of each player, coach and staff member relating to how to express themselves on social justice topics,” Rooney said in the statement. “We will continue to support our social initiatives to fight against social injustice and systemic racism not only in our area, but around the country.
“Along the way, we understand that individually we may say or do things that are not universally accepted. There will be uncomfortable conversations. But we will strive to be a force for unity in our efforts to support a more just society.”
Statement from #Steelers President Art Rooney II: pic.twitter.com/Mh4fnKhr0e
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 17, 2020
Rose, who was unarmed, was shot and killed by East Pittsburgh police in 2018 after the car he was riding in with other teenagers matched the description of one involved in a drive-by shooting.
Officer Michael Rosfeld ran after Rose, one of two passengers who fled the car, and shot him three times in his back, face and elbow. Rosfeld, who had been on the force for just three weeks, was charged with criminal homicide but was acquitted of all charges. During the trial, Rosfeld said he thought he saw one of the two teenagers point a gun at him, but he didn’t know which one.
The shooting was captured on video and sparked some protests in the region. Rose’s name has continued to be a rallying cry used by protesters in demonstrations.
The family reached a $2 million settlement in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the borough of East Pittsburgh and Rosfeld in 2019.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Despite a losing record and profound struggles on offense, New York Jets CEO Christopher Johnson gave his full support to coach Adam Gase, calling him a “brilliant offensive mind.”
Speaking to reporters for the first time in 10 months, Johnson declined to issue a playoff mandate, saying Gase will be evaluated on whether the team progresses throughout the season.
“I have full confidence in Adam,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I think that he has a lot more in him as a head coach than some of our fans are giving him credit for. And I understand they want to see success. I think that they will.”
The Jets are 7-10 under Gase, who has presided over the league’s lowest-ranked offense over that span. They lost the opener to the Buffalo Bills, 27-17, which Johnson called “a mess.”
Asked why he’s so confident in Gase, Johnson said: “Look, I think he can work with and develop quarterbacks. I do continue to think he’s a brilliant offensive mind especially. He has my every confidence.”
For much of quarterback Michael Vick’s scintillating stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, a major area of focus was the amount of hits he was taking and how to fix it.
During his main stretch as a starter from 2010 to 2012, he absorbed 323 hits over 35 games (more than nine per game), second most in the NFL behind only Cam Newton (342). That punishment led to various injuries for Vick, including rib and cartilage damage when he dove head first toward the goal line against Washington in 2010 and got walloped by a pair of defenders. Vick later revealed that, for as gifted as an athlete as he was, he didn’t know how to slide. That didn’t stop the requests from pouring in, including from President Barack Obama, who asked teammate Nnamdi Asomugha during an offseason fundraiser to: “Tell Vick to slide.”
Lyon continue to set the standard for the women’s game in Europe.
Les Fenottes collected their fifth-straight Women’s Champions League crown on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in Spain’s Basque region.
Before the final, Wolfsburg last lost in March 2019. Their opponents in that Champions League quarterfinal defeat were, of course, the eventual champions, Lyon.
7?-TIMES #UWCL CHAMPIONS! ???????#UWCLfinal #WOLOL 1-3 pic.twitter.com/0ChD3BvIwB
— OL English ?? (@OL_English) August 30, 2020
Lyon went ahead in the 28th minute when they broke down Wolfsburg’s left-hand side. Delphine Cascarino eventually cut the ball back for Eugenie Le Sommer – who intelligently slowed her run, occupying space in front of the retreating backline – and the 31-year-old finished after Friederike Abt parried her initial effort.
The all-conquering French team’s second goal was a ruthless finish. A deep cross couldn’t be cleared by Wolfsburg or controlled by a Lyon player until the ball dribbled toward Saki Kumagai at the edge of the box. The Japanese midfielder smacked a first-time, left-footed shot from 20 yards that swerved and dripped into the bottom corner.
Wolfsburg hadn’t managed to pressure Lyon throughout the opening half, but they got themselves back into the game 10 minutes into the second stanza.
Lyon goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi palmed away a cross that fell to Ewa Pajor, but the speedy attacker’s lash went across the six-yard box rather than toward the mesh. Thankfully, Alexandra Popp was on her toes and headed in the wayward shot from close range.
Wolfsburg, with renewed belief, were focusing their attacks down the side of right-back Lucy Bronze, who was playing her last game for Lyon. However, Jean-Luc Vasseur’s side was defending heroically and put the match out of reach with two minutes remaining.
Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, who started the season with Wolfsburg, reacted quickly when Le Sommer’s half-volley appeared to flash wide of the post, diverting the ball into the net with a deft flick.
Bouhaddi, Le Sommer, Wendie Renard, and Amel Majri have now won the Champions League seven times – more than anybody who has participated in the women’s or men’s edition of the competition.
