‘This is the season of protest’: Pete Carroll says it’s possible NFL teams could protest games

SEATTLE — Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on Wednesday said it’s possible the Seahawks and/or other NFL teams could protest games during the 2020-21 season.

“Anything is possible,” Carroll said when asked if teams could choose to not play games. “I mentioned to the players, this is the season of protest… but this is a protest that doesn’t have an end to it until all the problems go away and we solve issues and stuff.”

Carroll’s comments came after the team held a mock game at CenturyLink Field and after the NBA announced it had canceled its three playoff games on Wednesday.

The NBA’s cancellation came after the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to take the court for their Game 5 matchup against the Orlando Magic in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

The shooting of Blake, who is Black, was captured on cell phone video and has ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, coming just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which touched off a wider reckoning on race.

When asked about the NBA teams’ protest, Carroll had this to say:

Not long after the NBA’s cancellation of Wednesday night’s games, several Major League Baseball teams followed suit. Among them were the Seattle Mariners who voted not to play against the San Diego Padres.

Teams in the MLS, including the Seattle Sounders, and in the WNBA also chose not to play Wednesday.

“The whole Black Lives Matter thing couldn’t be more obvious how true this whole movement is, and how much focus and change needs to come,” Carroll said. “It’s just so clear. I hope we can do something to help.”

The Seahawks were scheduled to have an off day Thursday, but several other NFL teams decided to cancel practice for the day to discuss social injustice and to stand in solidarity with the protests seen in the NBA, MLB, MLS and WNBA.

Here are more reactions from Seattle teams and athletes in regards to the Blake shooting, social injustice, protests and more:

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