nfl
NFL faces intense backlash, calls for firings over Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion injury
- The NFL is facing intense backlash after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a serious head injury that could have been prevented.
- During yesterday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tua was quickly rushed to the hospital after sustaining head injuries from a sack.
- Former players, health experts and commentators are outraged that Tagovailoa was permitted to play in Thursday’s contest in the first place after he sustained a similar head injury this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills
- “I don’t care if you clear concussion protocol, it doesn’t mean you’re perfectly healthy,” former offensive lineman Emmanuel Acho said in a TikTok post. “Your eyes should tell you what a concussion test doesn’t even need to.”
- Prior to his injury, the Samoan American quarterback was having a career season, leading his team to a perfect 3-0 record.
The NFL is facing intense backlash after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a serious head injury that could have been prevented.
During yesterday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, nose tackle Josh Toupou sacked Tagovailoa in the second quarter. Tagovailoa crumpled over upon impact and his fingers temporarily contorted as he stared blankly at the ceiling after Toupou slammed him headfirst onto the gridiron. He was quickly stretchered off the field and rushed to the hospital and has since been seen back in South Beach wearing a neck brace.
Ice Cube’s alleged anti-Asian, anti-Semitic past resurfaces after news of NFL partnership
- The NFL recently announced its partnership with Ice Cube’s economic equity initiative Contract With Black America (CWBA) Institute.
- The partnership will focus on “identifying league-wide opportunities in the financial, tech, and production sectors, with a concentration on increasing spending to Black business nationwide to help close America’s racial and economic wealth gap.”
- Ice Cube, whose real name is O'Shea Jackson, has come under fire over the years for alleged anti-Semitic and anti-Asian lyrics in his 1991 songs “No Vaseline” and “Black Korea.”
- Ice Cube most recently drew flak for posting tweets in support of religious leader Louis Farrakhan, who has called Jews “wicked deceivers” and compared them to “termites.”
- To date, Ice Cube has reportedly not apologized for the controversies and has threatened to sue journalists who referred to him as “anti-Semitic.”
Critics have called attention to Ice Cube’s alleged anti-Asian and anti-Semitic past following the NFL’s announcement of its partnership with the rapper’s Contract With Black America (CWBA) Institute, an economic equity initiative.
The NFL, which has been aiming to boost its work with Black-owned businesses, announced the partnership on June 30. The collaboration is set to focus on “identifying league-wide opportunities in the financial, tech, and production sectors, with a concentration on increasing spending to Black business nationwide to help close America’s racial and economic wealth gap.”
Lo van Pham becomes the first Asian American NFL game official
- Lo van Pham is set to make history as the first Asian American to officiate in the NFL.
- In an announcement posted on Tuesday, the NFL congratulated Pham and its other new game officials.
- Born in Vietnam, Pham and his family of five lived in a refugee camp in the Philippines before moving to Amarillo, Texas, in 1979.
- Pham was a defensive back for Palo Duro before becoming a back judge in Amarillo in 2000.
- He got his first break in 2006 when he was chosen to work for the Lone Star Conference.
- The following year, Pham started rising through the ranks as a Division 1 on-field official for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2015, he officiated his first Big 12 Conference game.
Editor’s note (5/5/21): A previous version of this story stated that Pham was born in Vietnam. The story has been corrected to show he was born in Laos.
Lo van Pham is set to make history as the first Asian American to officiate in the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons sign Seoul-born kicker Younghoe Koo to another 5 years in $24.2 million deal
- The Atlanta Falcons officially announced yesterday, March 15, that they have re-signed Korean kicker Younghoe Koo, 27, to another five years in a deal worth $24.24 million or $4.85 million per year.
- This puts Koo as the second highest earner among kickers after the Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker.
- Last season, Koo was among the NFL’s most accurate kickers, with three game-winning kicks. Since signing to the Falcons in 2019, Koo has had a 92.6% field goal success rate.
- Koo had a rough start to his professional career: When he was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, he was let go shortly after missing two game-deciding field goals.
Hailed as one of the NFL’s best kickers, Korean football player Younghoe Koo just committed to another five years with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Atlanta Falcons officially announced yesterday, March 15, that they have re-signed Seoul-born kicker Koo, 27, to a five-year extension. According to the NFL, the deal is worth $24.25 million, which evens out to $4.85 million a year. This puts Koo as the one of the highest earners among kickers, second to only Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker.
Yoshihito Omi has a chance to become the first-ever Japanese NFL player
Japanese football player Yoshihito Omi was one of the talented 44 international athletes invited to the NFL’s international combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Tuesday.
The first Japanese NFL player?: Omi, 25, has a shot at becoming the first-ever player to represent Japan in the NFL after being invited to participate in Tuesday’s event, which was a part of the league’s International Player Pathway program created in 2017, according to USA Today.
Eugene Chung says NFL is being ‘misleading’ about investigation of alleged anti-Asian comment
Ex-NFL player Eugene Chung has called the football league’s statement on the review about the alleged racial discrimination he experienced at a job interview “a little misleading.”
Brief conversation: The former coach revealed he only had one brief conversation with the NFL in May during the league’s review of the issue, according to ESPN.
NFL Unable to Confirm Ex-NFL Assistant Coach’s Allegations of Discrimination During Interview
The NFL officially released a statement on Thursday, saying it is unable to confirm the alleged discriminatory statements made towards Eugene Chung during a coaching position interview.
What happened: Chung, 52, a former NFL offensive lineman and assistant line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, and is of Korean descent, alleged that an interviewer told him he was “not the right minority” they were looking for.
Ex-NFL Assistant Coach Told He Was ‘Not the Right Minority’ in Job Interview
Eugene Chung, a former NFL offensive lineman and assistant coach, was told that he was “not the right minority” — a remark that “emotionally paralyzed” him.
What happened: Chung, who is Korean American, recalled the surprising comment to The Boston Globe.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Carlton Davis Releases Statement After Using Anti-Asian Slur
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis has apologized for using an anti-Asian slur in his Tweet from Sunday night.
“Gotta stop letting gooks in Miami,” the now-deleted Tweet read.
Los Angeles Rams Rookie Taylor Rapp Aims to Show ‘Asians Can Play’ in the NFL
Taylor Rapp, the newest member of a small group of Asian Americans to be drafted into the NFL, is aiming to become the Asian American role model he never had growing up.
Fresh from playing three standout seasons at Washington, Rapp was selected by defending NFC champions Los Angeles Rams as the 61st pick in the second round of the NFL draft in April.
Asian American Makes History as the #1 Draft Pick in the NFL
The Arizona Cardinals made history on Thursday by selecting Kyler Murray as their first pick in the National Football League draft.
Born to an African American father, Kevin Murray, and mother of Korean American descent, Missy Murray, in Bedford, Texas, the 21-year-old quarterback became the first-ever Asian American No. 1 draft pick in the history of the NFL.
Former NFL Champ Has a Powerful Message For Asian American NFL Draft Prospect
After generating quite a buzz in college football, draft prospect Taylor Rapp is set to become the second Asian American in the NFL this year.
Before he makes his pro-football debut, the 21-year-old Washington Huskies safety received an uplifting message from two-time Super Bowl champion Hines Ward to prepare him for the challenges ahead.
