The NFL has changed. Christmas Day used to belong to the NBA in recent years. Now, the NFL has taken over Christmas Day and will feature a tripleheader as families gather to celebrate the holiday season.
One team playing on Christmas this year is the Detroit Lions, and one of their stars had something to say about it.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Doesn’t Hold Back on NFL’s Christmas Games
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving annually since 1934. That tradition, despite some lean years for the franchise, has continued. The Lions played on Thanksgiving this season, losing 31-24 to the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.
America loves its sports. That is why games are played on Thanksgiving and now extend into Christmas Day. What is not often discussed, however, is the effect this has on players and their families. Players and those associated with organizations must put their families aside to entertain the general public.
One of Detroit’s stars, Amon-Ra St. Brown, took to his podcast to share his thoughts on teams having to play on holidays.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played on Christmas. Maybe my rookie year against the Falcons. This is like Christmas day during the week, yeah, I’ve never played on Christmas day like this,” St. Brown said.
“How do I feel? This is our third (Thursday night game), and we had Thanksgiving. I’m not a fan. We’ve got two of the biggest holidays in the United States, and we played on both of them.”
St. Brown went on to point out that the NFL is now pulling people away from their families, something he cannot fully relate to as someone without children. However, he said he thinks about parents and what they are sacrificing.
“If I had kids, I’d be even more pissed. You can’t spend it with your family, see your kids open gifts. I feel like that’s something a lot of parents hope to see.
“I don’t even like it, and I’m not a f*****g father yet. I can’t even imagine what dads are feeling like.”
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, six games were played this year. The NFL schedule fell on a Thursday, which is typical given that Thursday Night Football has become standard under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Last year, however, Christmas did not fall on a traditional football day, and the NFL still scheduled games during the holiday. The league has continued to expand its calendar, including adding a game on the day after Thanksgiving last season, a new tradition that appears likely to continue.
St. Brown is not alone in his frustration. Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell also said he was upset the team had to play on Christmas. It is likely more players will continue to speak out if the NFL continues scheduling games on major holidays.
Give this guys a break. They have family’s too. Think about the children the loved ones who don’t get to see them. I am a first responder. Look if it’s an emergency that’s one thing But cut these guys some slack.
Appreciate you, sir. Salute to you.
Maintenance mechanics work every holiday along with electricians and other technicians to keep plants going lights on cities on sewer systems running military personnel protecting us in foreign countries are always on alert and they get paid poverty wages all of us individuals who have to work these schedules would love to be home with are families we all have kids but we have a job all Americans count on us to do so when they turn a light switch on that light shines bright