Former Patriot Benjamin Watson ‘I’ve had plenty of racist teammates’

Former Patriot Benjamin Watson had to deal with a lot of racist teammates in his football career. He had some unpleasant events in the past. Sadly, racist players like to say things to their African-American teammates. Terrible things.

“I’ve had plenty of racist teammates,” Watson said. “Of course. Racism is, it’s how we frame racism. It’s easy to say the KKK and people who say the N-word at you, that’s easy to see. But that’s not really the issue. The real racism is the one who is in his living room with his kids watching a show or talking about something in the news, and he’s saying things that when I’m talked to the kid, who is grown now, they say, ‘yeah, my father used to say this, that and the other.’ It’s not necessarily a teammate I see who tells me he’s racist – that’s not happening. But of course, we encounter racists every day.”

What did he to during those times?

“For the guy who was the overt racist, they usually get handled before they get to me,” Watson said. “But a lot of it is understated. A lot of it is covered and a lot of it is in the small words that are said and not said when certain current events are happening. A lot of it, honestly, is in the assumption of certain players and certain backgrounds. Certain terms we use in football are usually associated with black players and white players. We may think nothing of it, but that in and of itself, is proof of, really, the racism that is embedded into our culture.”

The death of George Floyd opened an old topic. The problem with racism was never solved.

Other Patriot players join Benjamin Watson

Jason McCourty hopes that the conversation won’t disappear. New England has already discussed he topic.

“I think it’s going to be an opportunity to uncomfortably have these discussions and to be able to really feel what each and every person in the locker room has gone through,” McCourty said on CNN. “Not only myself but there’s so many guys within a locker room from so many different backgrounds, races, demographics, that allows a special moment to be a melting pot and in that situation really be able to care for one another. And be able to understand and talk to each other about what our journey has been like. And I think that’s the unique setting we have within a locker room is that, hey, we all have a common goal. We all want to do something special on the field.

“But at the same time, we have a responsibility to get to know each other and build on things we can do in the community. So I’m excited to see what a locker room will be like when you have 90 guys that are willing to care for one another and be able to make change together.”

New England released a statement

The New England Patriots released a statement following the death of George Floyd.

“Over the last several days, we have tried to listen, learn and reflect,” the statement read. “We have been at a loss for the appropriate words, perhaps because there are none to adequately describe the horrific incidents of the last few weeks. It is impossible for us to comprehend what happened to George Floyd or the pain his family must be feeling, a pain that resonates with so many others who have lost loved ones in similar brutalities that were not captured on video for the rest of the world to see. We cannot begin to understand the frustration and fear members of our black community have faced for generations. Recent events have shined a light on a topic that demands much more attention.

“Our country deeply needs healing. We don’t have the answers, but we do know that we want to be a part of the change. As leaders in the New England community, we must speak up. Here is where our family, and our organization, stands:

“We are horrified by the acts of racism we’ve witnessed. We are heartbroken for the families who have lost loved ones, and we are devastated for our communities of color, who are sad, who are exhausted, who are suffering. We know that none of the sadness, exhaustion or suffering is new. We know it is systemic. Our eyes, ears and hearts are open.”

The Kraft family does not approve racism

“Our family has a long history of supporting vulnerable people in our communities and advocating for equality. But past efforts don’t mean anything until we all stand on equal footing in America, so we must act in the present, and not simply rely on what we’ve done in the past. There remains much work to be done. We will not rest on statements, because words without actions are void. Rather, we will work harder than ever before – through our philanthropy, community engagement, advocacy and supporting the work of our players – to build bridges, to promote equality, to stand up for what’s right and to value ALL people.”