There are a couple of schools of thought running around right now when it comes to high-profile athletes. Some believe they should “shut up and dribble,” staying out of politics and social issues altogether and acting as pure entertainment for the masses. Others believe athletes should use their platforms to speak up on those types of issues.
It’s safe to say we can place Houston Texans star J.J. Watt firmly into the latter group, based on what he had to say regarding a comment about NFL draft prospect Josh Rosen. NFL insider Mike Lombardi recently said of Rosen, “He has to decide whether he wants to be a humanitarian or a football player.”
That comment rubbed Watt the wrong way.
This is just as dumb as the “shut up and dribble” comment. Right or wrong, athletes are some of the most recognizable people in this country. That is an extremely powerful platform that so many use to do great things in their community. Who wouldn’t want that? #MoreThanAnAthlete https://t.co/wDKcj341n8
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 7, 2018
Watt has surely taken his own advice to heart. He won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for the 2017 season because he didn’t shut up and play football. Instead, he used his vast influence to raise $36 million for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, an effort that continues to this day.
Rosen has proven to be an outspoken young man already, and he hasn’t even hit the professional ranks yet. Some teams are likely going to be turned off by that, while others will likely embrace that as part of what makes him special.