…..This is an article I found…..written by Shawn King….

To Coach Gruden & Derek Carr,

I come in peace. But I am here to say the hard things that I don’t think your Black teammates and colleagues are either willing or able to say.

Coach Gruden – you were always a huge fan of Colin Kaepernick and raved more about his skills than nearly anyone else in the NFL. As you also know, his entire career was stolen from him, not for football reasons, but because he took a stance against racism and police violence in America. The same is clearly true of Eric Reid – Colin’s best friend in the league, who has now also been effectively banned at the age of 29 – in spite of being one of the strongest and most impactful defensive players in the game. Both men should be in the prime of their careers right now, doing what they spent their lives to be able to do, but instead, they are home right now.

Because of this, dozens of NFL players, including current players on your team, have told me that they’ve learned the bitter lesson the league was aiming to teach them – which is not to rock the boat much when it comes to racism and police violence. Color within the lines. Only do what you’re asked when it comes to racial justice – or potentially lose your whole career and livelihood. So, in the NFL right now, Black players that don’t want to suffer what Colin and Eric are going through, are keeping their mouths shut – including around the racist ugliness we’ve just learned came out of your mouth.

When you said NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith, a Black man that I consider my friend, has “lips the size of Michelin tires” – you were being racist.

Let’s stop there. We need to. Because for every single day that has passed since you said this bigoted garbage, you’ve strained credulity to convince us that you didn’t mean anything racist. Let me help you…

It doesn’t matter what you meant. It was racist.

But that you expect us to believe that what you said about DeMaurice Smith is something that you also said about white men may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say in your life. And I’ve been a fan for a long time. Show me the examples of you saying this about white men. Publish the emails. Show me the recordings. Your whole life is on camera. Show me the footage of you saying this about a white man.

What you said was racist. And if you don’t know it, which I honestly think you do, we have a bigger problem. Acknowledge it. And then accept some truly earnest ways to repent from this moment. So far, what you’ve said and done is far from enough.

WHICH TAKES ME TO  DEREK CARR…..

Derek – next to Coach Gruden, you are the leader of the Raiders. Beyond being the quarterback and one of the most tenured players on the team, you are the literal captain of the squad. Which makes your recent words regarding Coach Gruden, and yourself for that matter, highly disappointing. I didn’t expect you to throw him under the bus, of course not, but you went somewhere that white men in situations like this often go…

You started talking about “racist bones.” Here are your exact words;

“I love everybody,” you said. “I don’t have a racist bone in my body. And I don’t believe that Coach does, either. I really don’t.”

The thing is – racism isn’t in your bones, Derek. It’s not in Coach Gruden’s bones, either. So, in the biological sense, you were right.

Racism, sexism, homophobia, and all types of bigotry – it’s not in our bones, man, it’s in our brain. And I think you’ve confirmed for us that you aren’t actually the one to make this determination about yourself or Coach Gruden. It’s like saying “you don’t see color.” Of course, you do. And if you don’t think that Coach Gruden has even a speck of racism in his brain, then you clearly don’t understand what’s wrong with what he said about DeMaurice Smith. Unintentional racism is racism. If that’s what you think this was, it’s still racism. And it needs to be examined and confronted.

Instead, you exonerated Coach Gruden (and yourself) from even the possibility of racism being a reality for either of you. You were wrong for this. At the very least, you both benefit from systemic racism each and every day. That alone is a reality that your comments about lacking “racist bones” doesn’t really acknowledge. In general, I would retire the “racist bones” trope. But deeper than that, I’d encourage you to stop short of saying that you, and other white men you trust, lack any hint of racism in your lives. Then, as quickly as you can, go read “How to be an Anti-Racist.” There you will quickly learn that your goal should no longer be the generic status of “not-racist,” but a life of overt anti-racism.

Your Black teammates could’ve really used you standing up for them and standing against racism and bigotry right now. What you are bound to know is that you would never experience the same consequences that they would if they spoke up right now. But instead of boldly using your privilege in this moment, you shrank…..and there you go…..thank you Shawn…..I’ve been Raider Nation since the 60’s….as for Gruden….I’ve never been a fan of his coaching techniques….as for Derek Carr….I wish they had gotten rid of him years ago….not because of what the article says about him….I never thought he was all that…..Kap should’ve been a part of this team years ago…..and Eric……I’m sure the NFL knew about his emails years ago…..but privilege is exactly that….privilege!