Player: Panthers canceled Saturday’s scrimmage so team can speak on social justice issues
The Carolina Panthers canceled Saturday’s scrimmage at Bank of America Stadium, to allow the team to come together and speak on social justice issues, according to a player with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke on a condition of anonymity because he was not authorized by the team to talk on the record.
The player added that the team was trying to figure out how they can help and “implement themselves in the communities for consistent change.”
A team spokesperson confirmed practice was canceled and that the players met Saturday.
Players were seen leaving the meeting around 12:15 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play Game 5 of their NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday afternoon in response to Sunday’s police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
Blake, who is Black, was shot seven times in the back as he tried to enter his vehicle against police orders.
As a result of the Bucks’ protest, the NBA postponed its remaining playoff games. The WNBA also postponed its games. Three Major League Baseball games and five MLS matches were postponed. Nine NFL teams, including the Broncos, Packers and Washington, canceled practices Wednesday and Thursday.
While those nine teams canceled practice, the Panthers did not.
“They wanted to take some time, and do something besides just missing a Wednesday night practice,” Rhule said Wednesday. “I think they recognize a lot of people here in Charlotte were anticipating seeing them playing, and I just think they felt like, ‘let’s do this at the right time.’ ”
Rhule met with multiple team leaders Wednesday prior to practice to see how they felt about continuing as scheduled. He said the Panthers wanted to do something that would make an impact.
Running back Mike Davis tweeted after Wednesday’s practice that it was “hard to focus.” Multiple players confirmed that they were having conversations throughout the week about the recent events and how to respond.
“I do want people to realize that we are trying and we do care, just give us some time, because we’ve got a lot of stuff on our plates that we’re trying to figure out behind closed doors,” defensive lineman Zach Kerr said Friday.
Panthers owner David Tepper was in the team’s facility and at practice Friday, seen talking to players and staff. He was not in the building Saturday.
The team was scheduled to have one of its biggest practices of training camp at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Instead, reporters were notified about 20 minutes prior that practice was delayed. At 10:27 a.m. the team announced that practice had been canceled.
Friday, Panthers coach Matt Rhule referred to the team’s Saturday practice as a third preaseason game for some players with the team hoping to get a better sense of where the roster stands with a final cut down just over a week away.
Team representatives initially gave no explanation for the cancellation. The Panthers had an off day for players scheduled Sunday. There has been no change to that plan.
This story was originally published August 29, 2020 at 10:53 AM.
