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Miami's Kenny Stills (left) and Albert Wilson kneel during the national anthem. (Steve Mitchell / USA Today)
Aaron Rodgers returned from the field to lead the Packers to a remarkable comeback on Sunday, while Khalil Mack was as powerful as the Bears in his debut with the team. The Chiefs Tyreek Hill continued to show his talent for making incredibly huge pieces, and Ryan Fitzpatrick probably evoked most of the "FitzMagic" from his long career in engineering the saints' upheavals in New Orleans.
That said, one could argue that the most publicized player of the first full day of the season in the NFL was the Kenny Stills of the Dolphins. The veteran receiver made the headlines when one of the two players to kneel on Sunday at the pregame national anthem – his teammate Albert Wilson, while another Miami player, Robert Quinn – led his team to victory. the Tennessee titans.
With four catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, Stills counted for all trips that the Miami offense made in the end zone in a 27-20 win (the team also scored on a kick return). Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was only able to win 124 yards in 16-of-23 passes with two interceptions.
Before these heroics, Stills continued to protest racial injustice, as he had done most of the previous two seasons. This put it even more in the spotlight than in the past, given the seemingly decreasing number of actors wanting to continue the protests.
Despite all the talk of the NFL protests, largely because of frequent criticism from President Trump, only a handful of players have committed to it, except for a series before last week's games. Remarks at a rally in Alabama. Judging by the start of the season, this small number has declined, with the 49th Marquise Goodwin, the only other player to be publicly expressed on Sunday, raising his fist during the anthem before a match against the Vikings. Demaryius Thomas and Brandon Marshall of Broncos stayed in the locker room during the song.
Before Thursday's game between the Eagles and Falcons, Michael Bennett of Philadelphia took a seat near the end of the anthem but his teammate Malcolm Jenkins refused to raise his fist, as he had done since 2016. "s & # 39; exclude from the anthem, "said Jenkins, who has played a leading role in negotiating with the NFL on the issue and has also been active in the field of criminal justice reform, recently said to Kent Babb from Post. "I think that served his purpose."
It remains to be seen whether Marshawn Lynch of the Raiders, who has been sitting since the national anthem since returning to the NFL last season, does so before Monday's game against the Rams. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers' former quarterback who started the protests and became the centerpiece of a major Nike advertising campaign, praised Stills and Wilson.
The two Miami players "continue to show their unwavering strength in fighting for the oppressed!" Said Kaepernick. Twitter. "They did not back down even when they were attacked and intimidated. Their courage will move the world forward!
Wilson is in his first season with the Dolphins, having staged a rally last season with the Chiefs, and Stills said in August that he was grateful to see a teammate join him on his knees during the anthem. "I thank God for having Albert at my side," he said (via the Miami Herald). "Being part of this event was not easy. … I'm grateful that he sees what's going on and he wants to do something about it.
"It's a peaceful protest. We do not hurt anyone, "Wilson said at the time. "We just want people to continue to know what's going on."
The protests were sentenced in August by two law enforcement organizations in South Florida, the Broward County Police Charitable Association calling on its members to boycott the upcoming Dolphins games . On Sunday, however, Stills said, "There was a huge difference between when we started demonstrating and now many people have contacted us."
Stills thanked the fans for their "positivity" and added, "Let's continue to do our best to bring about positive change, to have these conversations and to make this country a better place."
As with Jenkins, Stills supported his demonstrations with a community-based activity. He helped organize town halls and police programs, and last year he was nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
"Every Tuesday, if you try to reach him, you'll have to wait five or six hours because he's doing community activities all day," Dolphins coach Adam Gase said in December. "I was impressed by how he made himself available, how much he tries to do."
Stills has also become a field leader for the Dolphins. Since arriving at the Saints trade in 2015, the former Oklahoma Sooner has increased its receptions and yards each season. DeVante Parker being injured and Jarvis Landry, maven of the reception, Miami needs him more than ever.
For a week, Stills responded well, drawing the attention of both opposing defenses and those with strong views on the NFL protests.
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