DeSean Takes Dumb to a New Level

Posted: July 7th, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on DeSean Takes Dumb to a New Level

I have written about the Eagles in some way, shape or form for 17 years. I have seen a lot of noteworthy things. A couple of players changed their names. One player agreed to become an Eagle and then changed his mind. One guy got drunk and went on a racist tirade at a concert. The Eagles once signed a player fresh out of federal prison. Life is rarely boring in the Eagles world.

Still, I never thought I would have to write about a player apologizing for quoting Hitler. Especially a Black player.

Yikes, to put it mildly.

There are so many things wrong with this that it is hard to know where to begin.

The most disturbing thing is that DeSean posted something blatanly anti-Semitic and somehow didn’t think it was anti-Semitic. That really is mind-blowing. He somehow thought that what he read was the kind of good information you want to share via your social media.

I get that DeSean isn’t a famous historian or political science major, but how on earth do you share a quote from Hitler and think it’s a good idea?

It wasn’t even a real quote from Hitler. DeSean saw something, liked it and shared it. He has 1.4 million followers on Instagram. I get nervous about writing something that will be read by 5,000 people. I can’t imagine if I had a platform like he does. Like it or not, when you have that many followers, responsibility comes with it. What you say matters.

DeSean didn’t help himself when he tried to explain things on Monday night.

He tells us he doesn’t hate the Jewish community while somehow not understanding that he just accused them of a centuries long global conspiracy. That’s just dense.

The Eagles didn’t say anything on Monday night, but they had this to say on Tuesday.

Some don’t think this is enough and want DeSean cut. I don’t think that is necessary. His posts on Monday proved to be more stupid than anything else. He clearly didn’t understand what he was saying. I’d rather DeSean actually take the time to understand just how hurtful and ridiculous his posts were and learn from that.

I wouldn’t be upset if the Eagles did cut him or if the NFL decides to suspend him. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences. Say what you want, but you might have to pay the price for it.

I don’t know if it was the Eagles or public backlash, but someone has DeSean’s attention now. He has released multiple apologies.

I’m guessing an agent and PR firm wrote at least a few of those words, but DeSean seems to now realize the gravity of the situation.

I hope something good does come of this. DeSean can use his platform in a healthy, productive way in the future. That isn’t to say he can’t have fun on social media or share something goofy, but he’s got to understand Hitler and anti-Semitism are very real. You don’t just throw around those words or ideas casually. They have a bloody past that has given them a meaning that will last forever.

DeSean doesn’t have to be an expert on history. I don’t need him to break down the Battle of Kursk or explain Operation Market Garden. But damn, you have to know Hitler. That’s just not someone you mention casually when discussing the subject of race or religion.

Words matter. Ideas matter.

I hope DeSean genuinely understands that now and remembers it in the future.

*****

A few people have brought up the Riley Cooper situation. That was very different to me. Cooper was drunk at a concert and made racist threats to someone working the show. That was a completely malicious incident. Cooper knew what he was saying and meant it.

The only reason he didn’t get cut is that Michael Vick and Jason Avant defended him. They stood up in the locker room and pushed for Cooper to stay.

It is easy to forget that Jeremy Maclin tore his ACL just a couple of days prior to the Cooper incident. If that didn’t happen, I don’t think his teammates would have been so aggressive in arguing for Cooper. That incident made the locker room a volatile place.

DeSean’s words will have little impact in the locker room. I don’t know if the Eagles have any Jewish players. If there are some, DeSean could go talk to them face-to-face and apologize. There are Jewish people in the organization, but that’s different than the locker room.

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