#Jets cancel practice in wake of Jacob Blake shooting

The Jets became one of several NFL teams to cancel practice this week following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisc.

Two days after the Detroit Lions first canceled their workout to discuss social injustice issues, and one day after the Milwaukee Bucks sparked the postponement of three NBA playoff games after deciding to not play in their scheduled matchup against Orlando, the Jets decided not ot hold practice Thursday in Florham Park.

The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Football Team also scrapped practice Thursday, and multiple MLB baseball games also were postponed Wednesday night.

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson talked to the team in an emotional virtual discussion Tuesday after Blake, a black man, was shot in the back seven times by Kenosha police officers over the weekend.

Wide receiver Jamison Crowder and safety Bradley McDougald said Wednesday it was difficult watching the video of Blake being shot, a few months after video emerged of George Floyd being killed by police in Minnesota.

“Me personally, I’m hurt by the whole situation,” McDougald said Wednesday. “I’m an African American man and that easily could have been me. As soon as I walk out of One Jets Drive, I’m just another black man. I don’t know how the cop is going to see me. I have dreads and tattoos and I’m bigger than the average male. I don’t know how that cop is going to view me and the attitude and the aggression he’s going to give me.

“This is definitely something that I don’t want and a lot of my brothers in the locker room don’t want it swept under the rug. This is not a one-day topic.”