For the second day in a row, “First Call” takes a look at another sports figure with Pittsburgh ties sounding off about kneeling during the anthem.

On Monday, it was Aliquippa and Pitt legend Mike Ditka. The former Chicago Bears coach told TMZ, “If you can’t respect our national anthem, get the hell out of the country.”

Now Steelers player Stephon Tuitt is making his voice heard.

I’m not sure what set off Stephon Tuitt Monday, but the often mild-mannered Steelers defensive lineman was in a feisty Twitter mood.

At first, Tuitt seemed upset about matters related to athletes and how they took care of their finances.

Or failed to do so.

I think alot of Athletes need to stop worrying about the public and people who tell them what to do with their money and educated themselves.

— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020

Just because they wear a suit with slick back hair you trust them over someone who you can relate to. That’s why athletes get taking advantage over. Educate your self please, I’m tired of hearing the same stories.

— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020

Then Tuitt took a hard turn to the issue of kneeling during the anthem.

Also I’m not kneeling for the flag and screw anybody who have a problem with that. My grandmother was a immigrant from the Carribean and age worked her ass off to bring 20 people over the right way. She had no money and educated herself to be a nurse. She living good now.

— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020

Tuitt’s post brings up an interesting conversation in the wake of the protests over George Floyd’s death.

Last month, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was excoriated within NFL circles for saying he didn’t support the idea of kneeling during the anthem. And he said it in much more delicate terms than Tuitt just did.

Since Brees is white, he was an easy target to be portrayed as closed minded, clumsy and tone deaf.

And those were the nice things people said about him.

Brees has bent over backward to make amends for what he said, regardless of whether or not he should feel obligated to do so.

Tuitt is of Caribbean descent. And he was certainly more dismissive and confrontational in his messaging. Yet in the roughly 20 hours between his tweet and this post, his comments have gotten very little attention by comparison.

So that raises the question: What matters when it comes to triggering outrage by fellow players and NFL media types? Because Brees was browbeaten in both circles.

Is it the person’s words? The action? The tone? The timing? Or the color of the skin of the person sending the message?

On one hand, the argument can be made that if kneeling during the anthem is part of the greater Black Lives Matter movement and, as a person of color, Tuitt departs from the cause, he could be portrayed even more negatively than Brees.

On the other, though, Tuitt can rightfully argue that if the movement truly represents equality and freedom of belief, he should be allowed to stand during the anthem without backlash.

I’m going to be extremely interested to see how this goes over for players of either race who decide to stand during the anthem if a significant majority of players elect to kneel.

If “the protest” becomes “the norm,” and remaining standing actually becomes a protest itself, will negative fallout be drawn along racial lines in locker rooms?

As if things may not be tense enough already in that regard.

In my view, players have every right to kneel. But it’s their right. Not their obligation to shame anyone into doing the same thing if that teammate doesn’t feel the same way .

Both Brees and Tuitt should be applauded for speaking their beliefs in the face of social media scorn and carrying forth whatever action they see fit during the song.

If you look at Tuitt’s responses, he got a lot of blowback. It mainly comes from people who interpret the act of kneeling during the anthem and what it stands for differently than he does.

He apparently sees the tradition of standing for the anthem as embodying what is the best of the United States, and not as a symbol for what’s wrong with it.

Tuitt is still allowed to have that interpretation, isn’t he? I mean, it’s one Brees and Ditka seem to share. It’s one I share. It doesn’t appear to be one many of Tuitt’s online followers share, though.

How it’s managed in the Steelers locker room is all that matters. How Tuitt’s teammates react to him, and how he reacts to teammates who kneel. Head coach Mike Tomlin has said the franchise will “support” players who protest.

Based on the social media hornet’s nest kicked by Tuitt, though, it’s just not clear what that “protest” is anymore. Is it standing or kneeling?

From a pragmatic football point of view, here’s the good news. If Tuitt is actually out on the field to stand and cause a stir, that’s a good thing. Because at least he’s in the starting lineup. Because, after missing 12 games over the last two seasons, that hasn’t happened enough.

I look forward to Tuitt playing again. Whether he stands or kneels is completely up to him.

As it should be for all players.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---