Pastors to 'black out' NFL in support of Colin Kaepernick

DALLAS - A group of pastors have decided to take time away from the TV on Sundays and instead invest in their community.

It’s all in response to Colin Kaepernick’s protest that has essentially left him unemployed.

A dozen Cleveland Browns, one white player among them, took a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sat or knelt every game last year in protest to police violence and racial discord in America.

Friendship West Baptist Church Pastor Freddie Haynes has proof he loves football and the Dallas Cowboys. But this season, he’s feeling different.

“It just began to break my heart this year the closer we got to the start of training camp,” he said. “Dallas Cowboys, I’m blacking you out.”

A Facebook movement was started by pastors in Huntsville, Alabama, to black out the NFL because they feel the league has blacked out Kaepernick since no team has signed him since he opted out of his contract in San Francisco because, the group says, he took a knee for social justice.

Haynes says Kaepernick acted similarly to the late Muhammad Ali.

“Using his platform to point to an injustice and using his voice for those who have no voice,” Haynes said.

Last season, the Cowboys stood during the anthem of every game. Owner Jerry Jones was asked Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan about the Kaepernick controversy, saying he liked the way the Cowboys do it.

“The act of recognizing the flag is a salute to our country and all of the people that have sacrificed so that we can have the liberties that we have,” Jones said.

This past Saturday, black New York City police officers showed support for Kaepernick. Spike Lee even used social media to announce a rally for Kaepernick on Wednesday outside the NFL headquarters.

Lee, the NYC officers and the pastors’ message to the NFL is if Kaepernick is out, then they’re out too.

“As much as I love football, I love justice even more,” Haynes said.

The pastors say they won’t buy NFL merchandise, play fantasy football, or watch or attend any games. Instead, they will fill that time with community service and teach youth about the problems in our country.