Jets Player Wears NYPD Cap Into Stadium to Support Officers

NFL games (and pro sports events in general) have become a recurring site of commentary on the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and subsequent lack of indictments. The St. Louis Rams entered Edward Jones Dome at the beginning of a game last month with their arms raised in a “Hands up, don’t shoot” gesture, while numerous NFL and NBA players have donned “I Can’t Breathe” shirts in reference to Garner. Both cases angered local police unions.

On Sunday morning New York Jets center Nick Mangold referenced the murder of two NYPD officers in Bedstuy Saturday night when he wore an NYPD ballcap while entering MetLife Stadium:

Wearing an NYPD hat, @nickmangold walks into the stadium. pic.twitter.com/dcsVTGz9jr

— Kristian Dyer (@KristianRDyer) December 21, 2014

Mangold addressed the cap after the team’s loss to the Patriots:

Mangold on his pregame NYPD hat: "I support the work they do. I can't imagine what they go through every day. I wanted to support them."

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 21, 2014

The gunman, who later killed himself, referenced Garner in his final Instagram posting before ambushing the officers in a patrol car.

[Image via screengrab]

——
>> Follow Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) on Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!