by Daisy Barringer
A lot of people celebrate the new year on January 1st, but for football fans, we know the real new year starts the first week of NFL football. Finally, the agonizing drought of having something to care about something to get out of bed for on Sunday something to over-analyze and argue over and believe in is over. So, first, let me say: Happy New Year. May this NFL season live up to all of your expectations.
Which, if you’re a 49ers’ fan, should probably be pretty low.
Yeah, yeah. The Niners looked good last night. But don’t forget, this is the same team that looked pretty amazing last year in Week 1 when they beat the Minnesota Vikings. And then went on to win just four more games. So yes, there was a lot to cheer about last night. And yes, you should definitely let that high stay with you all week. Because it’s all going to come crashing down when the 49ers face off against the Panthers next Sunday at 10 a.m. in North Carolina and we see what this team is really made of.
Of course, no one was thinking like that last night at Levi’s Stadium (which was relatively crowded for a change). After all, it’s hard to think rationally when your team is dominating the opponent. It’s hard to remember, “Oh but wait, the opponent is the Rams.” Because it feels good to jump up and down. It feels good to high five strangers. It feels good to have hope. To think maybe we won’t suck so badly this year after all. It feels so good that it’s hard to stop and make yourself question: Did the 49ers play really well last night? Or did the Rams just totally self-implode
Like most things in life, the answer is probably somewhere in between. The Niners defense did a great job. If football were just about D, I would have really high hopes for this team. NaVorro Bowman and Ray-Ray Armstrong had 13 tackles between them and one interception each. The defense also sacked Rams QB Case Keenum twice and held running back Todd Gurley, who is a legitimate threat, to just 47 yards on 17 carries. Our D looks solid. And that’s something to be excited about.
The Niners offense, however? I mean they were fine. Which, luckily, is all they needed to be to win this game. Thank god for Carlos Hyde who had 23 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns. If he were to get injured, I’d say our season would basically be over. Because, yes, Blaine Gabbert was able to put together four touchdown drives, but I don’t feel good about any of it. He had a couple of passes batted down, took way too many hits, and overall just looked mediocre. And that’s with an offensive line that did a great job protecting him and giving him time. Gabbert managed the game. He didn’t make any mistakes (at least not that came back to haunt him) and that is saying something. I just don’t think we’ll be saying the same thing when he plays the Panthers or the Seahawks. And if he keeps running down field and forgetting to slide, it won’t even matter because he’ll end up injured and giving Colin Kaepernick a chance at redemption.
We did see a little bit of Kap last night. That’s what happens when your team is up 28-0 in the fourth. Your backup QB comes in off of the bench. Unfortunately, for Kaepernick, he came in to a lot of boos. I don’t know why I was shocked, but I found the boos to be incredibly upsetting. Here’s a guy who is bravely taking a stand/kneel to peacefully protest the fact that black people and people of color are wrongfully oppressed in this country and people think he should keep his opinions to himself. Because, you know, so much change has been brought about by people not speaking out against injustice.
I’ve faced a lot of backlash on Twitter for supporting Kaepernick and all of the other NFL players who are either kneeling or raising their fist during the anthem. I debated writing about it here. Football is football, I thought. It’s not supposed to be political. People just want to hear about the fan on the field who ran so much he was probably exhausted and relieved when he was finally tackled by security. They just want to know my thoughts on Rams DT Aaron Donald (99) getting ejected, throwing his helmet onto the field like a little baby, and then being assaulted by water bottles thrown by Niners’ fans as he walked to the locker room. (He’s a moron; so are the jerks that threw things at him.) People want to hear funny stories about the fan in front of me who smoked so much pot that he nodded off the entire game. Or the group of older white ladies who danced and danced and danced and gave me something to aspire to be like when I grow up.
Yeah football was never supposed to be political. But, like it or not, thanks to Colin Kaepernick, now it is. And to not address it would be disrespectful to the players who’ve had enough and are willing to risk endorsement deals and front office support by defying expectations when the national anthem plays. To not address it would be to ignore what I think is arguably the most important thing happening this season. It would be wrong.
I did not stand during the national anthem last night. It was oddly a more emotional moment for me than I anticipated. I’m not naïve enough to think my sitting will change anything, but I’m the kind of girl who has to do what I know is right. Even if that means I have to deal with someone two rows away yelling, “STAND THE F*CK UP!” at me. Even if that means discussing it on Twitter where white man after white man tells me to “move” or “jump off a bridge.” Even if that means alienating readers.
Football this year is going to be as intense as ever on the field. But the most interesting stuff might just be happening on the sidelines. I’m ready for a white player to kneel. I hope it’s someone on the 49ers. And I hope it happens soon.
I also hope the Niners win some more games, but that probably won’t happen either. Is it totally pessimistic to say I can easily see us going 5-11? Probably. But today is about speaking my truth and even though the Niners had a great night last night, I just don’t see us beating teams like the Panthers, Seahawks, Cardinals, or Patriots. On this one point, I hope I’m wrong.
Next Week: 49ers play the Panthers in Carolina. We’re definitely going to lose. No one will blame you if you decide to go on a hike instead.
Follow Daisy Barringer @daisy on Twitter.
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