Ex-NFL player Ryan Clark says he will never respect President Trump but praises Obama administration for 'no scandals'



Former NFL player Ryan Clark released a video claiming President Donald Trump had a divisive and bigotry-filled term, while President Barack Obama was graceful and without scandal.

Clark's video, posted on his X page, seemingly served as an explainer for the statement he released after Trump won the election, in which he said, "The majority has spoken & Donald Trump is OUR President. I will respect him & his office as such."

The former ESPN host and now host for Fanatics said he got a lot of pushback from his "community" regarding his post and proceeded to explain in detail why he doesn't like President Trump.

— (@)

Clark claimed in his video that after Trump's election, his oldest daughter got up at 7 a.m. and lay in bed with her grandmother and cried. He likened this to many Kamala Harris supporters who felt "sadness" and "depression" because Trump won.

He then compared Trump's tenure to that of Obama, stating that Obama represented the United States "with class, and with grace, and with elegance, and with decency."

He added that Obama had "no scandals" and no felony charges, while Trump ran a campaign and a presidency based in bigotry and hate.

Clark finished by saying that he doesn't "and won't" respect Trump but will respect the office of the president.

Many commenters found Clark's own video to be divisive despite his stated intent not to be, specifically since the former athlete hammered home in his caption that when Trump came into office he "empowered" bigotry.

"After 8 years of being represented with class by President Obama the country decided it needed to be 'Great Again.'" "Bigotry was now empowered straight from the Oval Office," Clark added.

However, the former Pittsburgh Steeler revealed that "Trump supporters of all colors" have told him he is wrong about the president.

He noted that while he is not optimistic, he will also attempt not tobe divisive. Many readers took issue with this.

"I can't stress this enough but Obama was the most divisive president of all time. The worst of the worst," one reply stated.

I can’t stress this enough but Obama was the most divisive president of all time. The worst of the worst.
— Mighty Matt 💪🏼 (@HskrsStarsBucs) November 11, 2024

Another reader attempted to point out Clark's hypocrisy for making derogatory claims about Trump while also saying he wasn't going to be divisive himself.

“Bigotry was now empowered straight from the Oval Office”

“Since, I want good for us all I won’t be divisive.”

🤦♂️
— Nick Dreyer (@nrdreyer0) November 12, 2024

Clark's tactic of rattling off claims about the president without context or rebuttal has become a go-to for many of his detractors.

Noting his felony charges and impeachments in such a manner appears to be more of a signal by Clark to his supporters that he is is with them rather than a sign that he is truly open to understanding his political opponents.

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Buffalo Bills fans digging out their snow-buried stadium appear to be having a winter blast



Buffalo Bills fans were hooting and hollering at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday, despite mountains of snow, whiteout conditions, and an absence of players on the field.

The Buffalo Bills were supposed to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in the AFC wild-card game, but Mother Nature had plans of her own. A winter storm, characterized as "potentially dangerous and life-threatening" by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, swept the region, burying the city — and its stadium — in snow.

— (@)

"Blizzard-like, whiteout conditions are possible, especially Saturday night and much of Sunday, and wind chills are forecast to dip into the single digits on Saturday night and remain there through mid-week," said the governor's office. "Travel in these areas will be difficult to impossible at times, and New Yorkers are urged to pay close attention to the weather and make plans accordingly to stay safe, especially those planning to attend Sunday’s Buffalo Bills' game."

As of Monday morning, Buffalo had received nearly a foot of snow, whereas other spots in Erie County, including Orchard Park, where the Bills' stadium stands, received far more, reported WGRZ-TV.

Hochul called the NFL and recommended the rescheduling of the Bills-Steelers game.

"I've been in communication with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend," Hochul said during a press conference Sunday. "In consultation with our emergency response teams, Buffalo Bills leadership, and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed."

Snow may be cited as justification to indefinitely postpone competitions in kindler and gentler sports, but not in football. Despite the state of emergency, the Bills-Steelers playoff game was rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday.

To ensure that there will be room for frozen bodies in the stands amidst all the snow and ice, the Bills began paying fans to shovel the stadium, capping the number of volunteers at 200.

The Bills put out the call Sunday evening "asking anyone age 18 and over (or under 18 with proper working papers) interested in shoveling snow inside the stadium" to show up at midnight to begin work for $20 an hour. The team also promised complimentary beverages and breakfast in the morning.

To sweeten the deal, Erie County and the state authorized prospective shovelers to travel to the stadium before it opens to the public.

It appears some shovelers are having a winter blast.

A viral video shows one fan tearing off his shirt then sliding down a culvert intended for snow down to the field.

"Oh hell no," says a nearby observer, chuckling over the display. "That's crazy! That's f***ing crazy!"

— (@)
— (@)

Others involved in the cleanup effort did not appear so keen to expose flesh to the elements.

Snug in multiple layers, storm chaser Logan Eschrich noted in a video Sunday that shovelers were having trouble keeping up with the storm.

— (@)

While most of the travel ban in Erie County had been lifted by early Monday morning, County Executive Mark Poloncarz indicated Orchard Park remained a "no man's land," reported the Buffalo News.

Given the low visibility, icy conditions, and high winds, Monday's game will likely be decided by runs and fumbles.

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Pittsburgh Steelers panned for possibly mocking Damar Hamlin's recent medical emergency



NFL fans and casual followers alike have taken to social media to criticize what they perceived to be an attempt from the Pittsburgh Steelers to mock a serious medical emergency which occurred during an NFL game a week ago.

Last Monday, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, just 24 years old, went into cardiac arrest after taking a hard hit to the chest during a primetime Monday Night Football match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals, who lead the AFC North division. The moments following Hamlin's collapse were truly harrowing. Hamlin went into such medical distress that officials had to perform CPR on him on the field, and players from both teams soon began crying. The game had to be temporarily suspended and then ultimately canceled.

Fortunately, Hamlin seems to have since made a remarkable recovery. Reports indicate that he has been discharged from the hospital, where he has been tweeting robustly for the past three days. When the Bills took on the New England Patriots on Sunday, Hamlin tweeted, "GameDay.. Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers. God Using Me In A Different Way Today. Tell Someone You Love Them Today!"

\u201cGameDay.. Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers. God Using Me In A Different Way Today. Tell Someone You Love Them Today! \ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffe3\ufe0f\u20e3 let\u2019s go @BuffaloBills \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc99\u201d
— \ud835\udc03\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc2b \ud835\udc07\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27 (@\ud835\udc03\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc2b \ud835\udc07\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27) 1673194640

Fans, players, sports pundits, and people of good will everywhere have continued to pray fervently for Hamlin's recovery. In a truly moving moment before their game Sunday afternoon, the Steelers and their bitter rivals, the Cleveland Browns, gathered at midfield and knelt in solemn prayer for Hamlin.

\u201cPrayers up \ud83d\ude4f\n\n#LoveForDamar\u201d
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@Pittsburgh Steelers) 1673200154

However, late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers seemed to belie that show of solidarity for Hamlin. At the very least, they performed an ill-timed celebration that seemed to mock Hamlin's medical emergency. With 30 seconds left in the game and Pittsburgh up two touchdowns, Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith managed to sack Browns QB Deshaun Watson for more than ten yards. After he made the hit, Highsmith laid prostrate on the ground, and soon afterwards, an unidentified teammate walked up to him and pretended to perform CPR, the same life-saving medical intervention Hamlin received only a few days before.

\u201cSteelers players did a mock CPR celebration after their sack of Deshaun Watson.\u201d
— Dan Zaksheske (@Dan Zaksheske) 1673212755

Despite the appearance of poor sportsmanship, several people and outlets, including Blitzburgh, which covers the Steelers extensively, noted that the team regularly performs the CPR celebration on the field and argued that the Highsmith incident on Sunday was just "bad timing" and likely unrelated to Hamlin.

\u201cFans who haven\u2019t watched much of the Steelers haven\u2019t seen them do the CPR celebration before, but think it was bad timing. Steelers do it all the time prior to Hamlin\u2019s situation. They weren\u2019t intending to mock Damar Hamlin whatsoever. #Steelers #NFL\u201d
— Blitzburgh (@Blitzburgh) 1673227999

After the game, Highsmith, a self-described "Follower of Jesus Christ," tweeted out a scripture verse to indicate he was praying for Hamlin.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" wrote Highsmith, quoting from Psalm 133 and including the picture of the Steelers and Browns united in prayer.

Still, many fans have stated that they have now lost much of their respect for the Steelers organization.

"Steelers defense celebrated a sack by performing CPR. Of all weeks… not a great look. Yikes," wrote Gunz of "The Gunz Show."

Coleman Bentley of Golf Digest wrote, "[T]o the surprise of absolutely no one the Pittsburgh Steelers locked up the NFL's number-one classless seed on Sunday."

Others have also characterized the move "classless," while NFL Memes called it "literally the WORST possible sack celebration this week."

Both the Steelers and the Browns had already been eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday's game even began, so the Steelers' 28-14 win was just for bragging rights. Meanwhile, Hamlin's Bills defeated the Patriots 35-23 and will face the Miami Dolphins in a Wild Card game on January 15. The winner of that game will advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.

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Whitlock: Fame and entitlement are destroying Tom Brady



Cameras captured Tom Brady yelling at his offensive linemen during the second quarter of Tampa Bay’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the last month, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has lost three of his last four games and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen. It’s a frustrating time for the most accomplished football player in NFL history. The Bucs don’t look like Super Bowl contenders, and Brady and his wife have hired divorce lawyers.

It’s no surprise Brady is lashing out. It’s also no surprise that the 45-year-old quarterback is suffering a midlife identity crisis.

You can argue that Father Time finally caught Tom Brady. I’d argue fame is causing the demise of Brady. Fame is undefeated at eroding self-awareness, promoting selfishness, and encouraging entitlement.

Selfishness, entitlement, and a lack of self-awareness are at the root of Brady’s 2022 on- and off-field failures.

Friday, Brady hopped on a private plane to attend Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s surprise wedding. Sometime Saturday, Brady jetted to Pittsburgh to meet his teammates for their game with the Steelers. Brady skipped the Saturday walk-through practice. He didn’t need it. He’s Super Tom Brady.

Brady no longer requires practice. He’s reportedly excused from Wednesday practices, too. Brady wants to play football. He’s not that interested in preparing to play football. His mindset mirrors that of most professional athletes.

NFL play is sloppy and uneven. It’s no surprise. The league has basically outlawed contact practice over safety concerns. Everyone is getting rich regardless of the quality of play. No one cares, including most of the fans.

The NFL and its network partners cater to casual fans, the people who watch the Red Zone channel for fantasy football updates and scoreboards to track their gambling picks.

For two decades, Brady excelled on the football field because he had the courage and self-awareness to stand out from his peers. He bought into and cultivated the Patriot Way, the selfless and team-oriented style of football Bill Belichick evangelizes.

Brady epitomized old-school values.

That Tom Brady died when he moved to Tampa Bay.

Tampa Tom desires the spoils of celebrity. Privilege. He practices when it’s convenient. He briefly retired because he no longer wanted to play for Bruce Arians. He sacrificed his marriage in pursuit of enhancing a football legacy that can’t go any higher.

Brady made a fool of himself Sunday berating his teammates. He can’t yell and scream at his teammates when they can so clearly see that he’s not fully invested in their success. Brady’s mindset and approach separated him from his competitors. The culture he helped Belichick create in New England contributed to his on-field greatness more than his physical gifts.

Brady’s behavior now undermines Tampa’s culture. Todd Bowles, Tampa’s coach, recognizes the problem.

“We didn’t take (Pittsburgh) lightly,” Bowles said after the 20-18 loss. “I think guys that are living off the Super Bowl are living in a fantasy land. You gotta get your hands dirty and go to work like everybody else. We’ve been working hard and we’ve gotta work harder. Nobody’s gonna give us anything. Nobody’s gonna feel sorry. We’ve gotta go back as coaches, as players – the time for talking is over. You either gotta put up or shut up.”

Of course the Buccaneers took Pittsburgh lightly. Injuries decimated Pittsburgh’s lineup. The Steelers’ two best players – T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick – didn’t play. Pittsburgh entered Sunday’s game on a four-game losing streak. At kickoff, the Buccaneers were favored by 10 points.

Forty-eight hours before the game, Tom Brady chose to attend a wedding in New York. That’s a signal to every player on the Bucs' roster that the greatest player of all time didn’t take Pittsburgh all that seriously. Brady’s actions are far more powerful and influential than Todd Bowles’ words.

A spirit of entitlement controls Tom Brady’s behavior at the moment. Fame does that. Constant adulation does that.

It’s great that Brady won a Super Bowl in Tampa. But the reality is that Brady misses Bill Belichick.

Brady should have retired three years ago and focused on his family. He’s not the same person without Belichick.

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NFL player covers name of police shooting victim on helmet in favor of Army vet killed in Iraq — and shooting victim's mother is irate



Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva is no stranger to controversy.

You might recall almost exactly three years ago when Villanueva — a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan — stood alone on the field for the national anthem while the rest of the team stayed in the locker room.

The only player to come out of the locker room for the national anthem, Alejandro Villanueva has #1 selling jersey:… https://t.co/JerMlxUYZ8
— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX 13 Tampa Bay)1506369745.0

It was the fall of 2017, and President Donald Trump — barely a year into his first term — was angry at players taking a knee in protest of police brutality against minorities, a movement that began the previous season with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Prior to Villanueva standing on the field for the national anthem, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said his entire team would stay in the locker room to help them avoid politics. The next day Villanueva said he regretted his gesture because it made the rest of his team look bad.

Now what?

It's now the fall of 2020, and football players taking a knee for the national anthem seems decidedly mild compared to the strident social justice stances professional athletes, teams, and leagues are taking in the wake of recent minority deaths at the hands of police and the wave of protests that have gripped the country.

In that vein, the NFL has allowed players to wear helmet decals honoring victims of "systemic racism," CBS Sports reported, adding that the Steelers decided as a team to honor for an entire season police shooting victim Antwon Rose Jr. — a black teenager shot in the back by a white police officer in Pittsburgh in 2018 after he ran from a pulled-over vehicle. The network said the now-former officer was charged with murder, but a jury found him not guilty in March 2019.

I cried as I read this... I never got to meet Antwon Rose, Jr. but through my friendship his Aunt, who is like a si… https://t.co/kdyJyp0zMd
— 🥀🖕🏼🌊🌌Mishel🌌🌊🖕🏼🥀 (@🥀🖕🏼🌊🌌Mishel🌌🌊🖕🏼🥀)1600217556.0

But Villanueva had something different in mind.

For the Steelers' game against the New York Giants on Monday, he covered Rose's name on the back of his helmet in favor of the name Alwyn Cashe, an Army sergeant who died after trying to rescue soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq in 2005, CBS Sports said.

On his helmet Pittsburgh #Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva covered up the name of Antwon Rose Jr., a Black teen… https://t.co/PHdGAANnNm
— KDKA (@KDKA)1600179441.0

Tomlin said Tuesday he gave Villanueva permission to break ranks with his teammates and that it was "in line with everything we've said about participating in social justice this offseason," TribLive reported.

"As an organization, and myself as the head coach of the organization, we're going to support our players however they chose to participate and express themselves, or to not participate or not express themselves, as long as they do so thoughtfully and with class," Tomlin also said, according to CBS Sports, adding that Villanueva's choice didn't warrant an explanation.

Shooting victim's mom is angry

It appears, however, that Rose's mother wants an explanation — because she isn't happy with what Villanueva did.

"The Pittsburgh Steelers took a team vote," Michelle Kenney wrote on Facebook, according to TribLive. "Obviously, one person didn't like the results, so they chose to do something different."

Kenney had praised the team for choosing to place her son's name on their helmets, saying it "means more to me than anything," but that feeling appears to be gone.

"I have nothing against vets and absolutely appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do for us," Kenney also wrote, TribLive said. "But this one person showed us exactly who he is, and obviously he didn't approve of how the vote turned out."

Rose's mother also wrote that she will use what she deemed as "negative press" as motivation to "hold the Pittsburgh Steelers even more accountable," the outlet reported.

"Yes, I believe in second chances, but as we all know I believe in putting in the work and that's how I base my collaborations," Kenney wrote, according to TribLive. "They came to me as a team/organization and I don't care how good of an individual you are, if you are not a TEAM player, then maybe you are playing for the wrong team."

Steelers pays tribute to Army hero on helmet, breaking with BLM message of team

Alejandro Villanueva, a lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, broke with a team decision to wear Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on their helmets this season, instead opting to put the name of Alwyn Cashe, a US Army hero.