Former NFL star Thomas Jones definitely sees racism in the National Football League and points to black players contract negotiations as proof.
“You have certain black quarterbacks that automatically just don’t get the contract that they’ve earned, they have to wait another couple years,” Thomas said on “TMZ Live.”
“Where you see certain white quarterbacks get contracts and, you know, they haven’t really done as much.”
The former NFL running back, who played in the league for 12 years, pointed to QB Ryan Tannehill getting a huge deal while legitimate running back Derrick Henry gets franchised tagged — when he deserves a long term deal.
Jones also added that Russell Wilson had to wait as well before he got his huge deal as opposed to White quarterbacks. He also disagreed with Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio who claimed there was no issue with racism or discrimination in the NFL.
“There is racism in the NFL,” said Jones, who played in the league from 2000 to 2011 … “What [Fangio] said sounds good, but it’s just not accurate.”
“That’s a slap in the face to black people and to black coaches and to black professionalism,” Jones said. “It’s very tone-deaf to us.”
“Especially after I played 12 years in the NFL, dedicated a lot of my life to it,” Jones added. “I know the X’s and O’s just as well as any other white coach or any other coach of any other nationality. And, for you to use that as a bargaining chip, it clearly says where they are.”
Jones is hoping that the ongoing protests around the country leads to change in the NFL.
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“They know what they’re doing, they know what it is,” Jones said. “And hopefully, with all the attention that’s being brought on racism right now and conversations that are being had, maybe this will put a little more pressure on them.”
