Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Video/News Video
News VideoVideo

Shannon Sharpe Keeps It Civil In Response to Ray Lewis’ Kneeling Explanation 

By | Published on September 28, 2017
CommentsComments (0) Add as a preferred source on Google i

Never one to bite his tongue, Shannon Sharpe has responded to his former Baltimore Ravens teammate Ray Lewis’ spirited rebuttal that he was praying and not protesting during the national anthem. Sharpe acknowledged he could have called his pal instead of questioning him on air, but admitted he’s not sure he would have said the same words to Lewis’ face.

“Even though he says he was praying — and I take him at his word that he was praying — you mean to tell me you can’t drop down on two knees beside Colin Kaepernick,” Sharpe said on FS1’s “Undisputed” Wednesday, Sept. 27. “And still ask that God that you were [talking] to, as you mentioned, in that sea of chaos that was going on off of what President Trump said? I’m sure Colin Kaepernick would like prayers also.”

Lewis has been vocal about his disagreement with the way free agent quarterback Kaepernick kneeled to protest Black oppression last season.

“Perception is not always reality, given what he had said,” Sharpe continued. “The thing that hurts me the most is that I said what I said, [then] Ray came back with his critique and now we’re talking about it and we’re still not talking about the issue at hand. We’re talking about the anthem.

Shannon Sharpe’s and Ray Lewis’ Differing NFL Protest Views

Ray Lewis Has Fiery Response to ‘Friend’ Shannon Sharpe Regarding His ‘Protest’

Shannon Sharpe Blasts ‘Hypocrisy’ of Ray Lewis and Others Who Took a Knee During Anthem

Ray Lewis Claims This Tweet from Kaepernick’s Girlfriend is to Blame for His Ongoing Free Agency

“And I’ve tried so hard since I’ve become on this side of the equation, the media, I’ve always tried not to be a part of the story. And what I’ve tried to do is offer my opinion and say, ‘This is what I believe’ and I haven’t wavered when it comes to Colin Kaepernick… Now, Ray and I somehow have become subplots to an issue [where] Ray should have his opinion [and] I should have my opinion. … I honestly believe Ray and I are trying to get to the same destination.”

Sharpe added that regardless of their disagreement, he’s “never gonna fallout” with Lewis.

 

Subscribe To The ABS Newsletter — Get our stories in your inbox.

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Latest from Atlanta Black Star

Back to top