Anquan Boldin has a higher calling in life – that much is clear. The Bills are not a part of it – which is completely understandable, given their desire to use the 2017 roster as stunt doubles for whatever players McDermott and Beane want on their team. But that didn’t drive Boldin away, Charlottesville did. Some will still say it was the Bills – and I’m not here for the debate, I’m here to talk to you about the reality of the world around us and how sticking your head in the football sand will not help.
Anquan Boldin: Decision to retire has nothing to do w anything the #Bills did. Charlottesville did
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 21, 2017
And with that answer, I never again want to hear “stick to sports/football/x” about anything. Some fans want a respite from some of the ugliness of the world at the expense of men and women who occupy the same whirling globe, seeking automatons that play football and little else. Reading the reactions to the above tweet helped justify Boldin’s move:
For real man . If he's not out there every single day marching or protesting I don't believe it.
— Gil (@xgil4x4) August 21, 2017
Imagine, someone who has no relationship with Anquan Boldin declaring unless he protests every day his reasons to leave are invalid? Does his trip to Capitol Hill to talk about improving relations between police and black people count? Is his work in Pahokee, Florida not good enough to give him the right to self determination?
Anquan Boldin, who has been a key part of every community he’s joined since being in the NFL, is now only eligible to leave the NFL if “Gil” deigns it so? I think not.
Boldin has always been this way. So as I read these comments and hear all of the “stick to sports” that permeates an NFL season – and now Bills in particular – I’m fed up. Read, really read and think about what Boldin’s talking about here:
“I think so,” Boldin said. “Football is great. I love playing football. It’s been a part of my life since I can remember. But when your life’s work is done, I don’t want people to talk about what I did on the football field. It’s good for the here and now, winning games and winning championships and breaking records or whatever. But that stuff fades away.
“People come in and replace you and that part is forgotten about. What you do for people will always last, even when you’re dead and gone. That’s the thing I want to be remembered for most.”
What you do for people isn’t scoring a first down in a meaningless season – it’s actions like his retirement, focusing on helping those that need it.
And if we’re being real here, helping folks that want the help. There is a swath of NFL fans that are more incensed players are protesting during the anthem than the fact nazis, literal nazis attempted to walk the streets of Charlottesville, killing a woman in the process. One undrafted free agent putting a fist in the air didn’t ruin your pre-season experience, nor will more players doing the same during the regular season.
There’s a mirror currently being placed in the faces of all of us as Americans. I implore my Bills fans brethren and sistren, be better than the reflection shown currently during events like Charlottesville. Look to be emphatic and think of something outside of the win loss record. Heck, think of me if you’re so inclined – if I were to tell you the stories of things experienced, would you say “stop whining and pick up your bootstraps?” I’d imagine not. I’d hope not. But if you did, well – that’s an article for another day.
So here’s my challenge, instead of being like Gil and Rich up there in the Twitterverse, anyone that has a problem with players raising fists, or kneeling or “speaking out of turn”, or retiring for a greater purpose – donate a non-Bills bye week to going out into your community and trying to help who you can in those three hours. The Bills will still be there when you get back – and instead of buying into a lost season, you can help people that need it out.
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