Randy Moss Uses Tie To Send Message During Hall Of Fame Speech
CANTON, Ohio (CBS/AP) — Just as the demonstrations of players during the national anthem have become a means of expression for NFL players, the stage at the Hall of Fame inductions often turns into a political platform. It certainly did Saturday night.
Ray Lewis did so with his words, and former New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss with his tie.
Lewis was a man on the prowl as he concluded proceedings in Canton, just as he was on the field as the greatest linebacker of his generation. He eschewed the lectern, wearing a cordless microphone for his 33-minute oratory focusing on "hope, faith and love," on "family, honor, legacy."
And then on the division in this country.
"Our country needs real leaders," Lewis said. "We need people that are willing to step up and take action. We need people willing to fight for what is good and what is right.
Instead of politicizing his speech, Moss wore a tie he said bore the names of 13 black men and women who have been killed by police in recent years. Late Saturday night, he explained his reasoning for wearing it to NFL Network.
"You see the names on my tie. Being able to use a big platform like this here at the Hall of Fame ... what I wanted to be able to express with my tie is to let these families know that they're not alone. I'm not here voicing; but by these names on my tie, at a big platform — it's the Pro Football Hall of Fame — there's a lot of stuff going on in our country. I just wanted to let these family members know that they're not alone."
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)