Emotional Troy Vincent speaks out on the shooting of Jacob Blake

Posted by Mike Florio on August 27, 2020, 11:12 AM EDT
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The league office hasn’t officially said anything about the shooting of Jacob Blake. One of the top executives at the league office has.

Executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent, appearing Thursday morning on ESPN Radio, addressed the topic that is engulfing sports and our national discourse, in a very raw, candid, and emotional way.

“This shit is — it’s gotta end,” Vincent said. “I’m so proud of these young boys. These young men and women. They did things I didn’t think about doing. I always walked for the community but during my time we thought we had a handle on it and obviously we didn’t.”

Vincent’s voice broke as he talked about the personal relevance of this issue to him.

“[W]hen I saw Doc Rivers and Lebron [James] and George Hill, I think about my three boys and I’m sitting up here every day having about contact tracing and how we’re gonna play ball, and I got a 22-year-old and 20-year-old and a 15-year-old that I’m trying to prevent from being hunted,” Vincent said. “And they’re teachable moments and I’m trusting my Lord, trusting Him. I’m just proud of what the guys and the women are doing. As we would say, a unified people would always defeat unified money. And I’m just proud. I’m proud.”

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20 responses to “Emotional Troy Vincent speaks out on the shooting of Jacob Blake”

  1. 2020 is the year sports and politics officially became one. Let’s see how it goes in the long run.

  3. I continually find myself at a loss these days as I read about more and more violence against the black men of our country. I appreciate the words of Troy Vincent, Doc Rivers and the young (and not so young) athletes as they speak out and up to demand accountability for the bad actions of those members of law enforcement who commit this violence. I pray we can at last find a way to come together to properly protect all the citizens of our country.

  5. “Hunted.” Very strong word, it is sickening to know a life can be taken or tragically altered by a series of senseless mistakes by all parties.

    I had a conversation with my son about inequalities and there are some things that he and I can’t understand and will never know because we have not experienced. As I told him, it is his duty to listen and try and be part of the solution.

  6. I feel bad for all these guys resisting arrest, people are causing them. I mean, just listen, and you don’t get shot.

    It’s that simple.

  7. I support the peaceful means of protest. The rioting, looting and violence is obviously diluting the entire message. At this point the movement needs people who everyone will listen to. Having radicals stand in front of a camera and make threats and demands is not going to further the cause. Proper leadership is the only thing that will lead to change.

    I suggest Troy and any other popular professionals take a leading role in this. People need to see and hear other people who can communicate effectively with every person in this country, regardless of color, race or political affiliation. A calming voice from an individual who commands everyone’s respect. A message delivered in that way is far more effective than a few words to the press or words delivered by someone who doesn’t have the ability to effectively communicate with the masses.

    Now is the time. There has never been an opportunity before like the one in front of us today. Organize and bring the message to the people and change will come. Allow the movement to be a source of violence and destruction and it will not be embraced by enough people to make any difference. In fact, I believe that sort of behavior is making things worse.

    Stand up, speak up and deliver a message that gives people a reason to listen. That is the only way to bring people together.

  8. I feel bad for all these guys resisting arrest, people are causing them. I mean, just listen, and you don’t get shot.

    It’s that simple.

    _____

    Like the EMT who got shot dead in her bed after the no knock raid? Or the guy they choked to death after having him face-down on the ground?

  9. brownsfan says:
    August 27, 2020 at 12:27 pm
    “Hunted.” Very strong word, it is sickening to know a life can be taken or tragically altered by a series of senseless mistakes by all parties.
    __________________________________________________________

    I’d say hunted is pretty accurate right now.

  10. How has anyone educated themselves on this incident and still think any of the reactions were justifiable?

  11. Hunted? Really? Nobody deserves to be shot in the back. How many people would have the police called on them for a domestic, refuse to leave, wrestle with cops, have a taser deployed iand then try to walk away and open your vehicle door?

  12. Its sickening how many racists are on this page. How can you hate black people so much that you don’t even recognize their humanity but then expect them to entertain you?

  14. The NFL’s message is, we support breaking the law and then fighting with the police. There should not be consequences for that.

  15. daltonsdumptruck says:
    August 27, 2020 at 2:08 pm
    How has anyone educated themselves on this incident and still think any of the reactions were justifiable?

    You obviously did not educate yourself on the situation with that statement.

  16. White guy in my 30s here. I’m grateful that I’ve never had to deal with racism myself and I probably won’t ever understand it.

    Serious question: Why is there so much animosity toward guys like Troy Vincent speaking up about it? I’m trying to wrap my head around this and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

  17. Wisconsin is a battleground state for the Presidential election, as is Minnesota…coincidence???

  18. Black men are not being ‘hunted’ by the police. It’s a lie spread by the media. No one wanted to see this man shot, but he also should have complied with the police and not resisted and reached in to his car. And other races are involved in police shootings. White, Latino, Asian, etc. Why is that rarely if never reported? Doesn’t fit the media narrative of ‘black people are victims’. The media is garbage, don’t trust it.

  20. bengal4573 says:
    August 27, 2020 at 2:16 pm
    Its sickening how many racists are on this page. How can you hate black people so much that you don’t even recognize their humanity but then expect them to entertain you?

    ———————–

    Try looking up the word racist… if you think any of these people in this comment section are racist than you need to have yourself evaluated bud.

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