Freddie Kitchens Doesn't Get to Play Innocent for Wearing Anti-Steelers Shirt Ahead of Rivalry Game
By Mark Powell
Whether he likes it or not, Freddie Kitchens made a statement.
Kitchens was spotted wearing a 'Pittsburgh Started It' t-shirt, which backs Myles Garrett after the Browns DE was suspended indefinitely for swinging his helmet like a hammer at Mason Rudolph's head. Rudolph did, allegedly, start the incident by inciting some inner anger in Garrett.
What Rudolph exactly said, and if it had racist intentions, remains a mystery, though Garrett stands by his statement despite the NFL saying they couldn't find evidence of any racial intent by the Steelers QB.
It was no secret I was critical of coach earlier this season, but after spotting Freddie Kitchens rocking @gvartwork’s #PittsburghStartedIt shirt tonight, he’s A-OK in my ?!
— Pumpkinhead ? (@PumpkinNation) November 30, 2019
Already got mine for THIS Sunday and this makes me even more PUMPED to wear it!! #CLEvsPIT #Browns pic.twitter.com/oKYabSgG9Q
I'm not a hurt Steelers fan whining about Kitchens' tomfoolery. I do, however, have an issue with his statement attempting to disregard the predicament as a whole.
Kitchens stated he didn't mean for the photo to end up on social media, which is the lamest excuse I've ever heard. Yes, no one enjoys being exposed. That's not the point.
So #Browns coach Freddie Kitchen wears shirt in public and not expect anyone roses or comment. So dumb. A day before #Steelers game. Gotcha. pic.twitter.com/WBP3iN9ODj
— T R (@TimotRice) November 30, 2019
To make matters worse, Kitchens apparently wore said shirt to see the new Fred Rogers movie. Rogers, of course, was from Pittsburgh himself!
Freddie Kitchens wore a “Pittsburgh Started It” shirt to see “Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood” movie. Trolling Mr. Rogers. That’s will come back to haunt him. Nobody messes with Fred Rogers and gets away with it.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) November 30, 2019
...Okay, so perhaps that was a stretch, but the point remains. Kitchens chose to wear this shirt. He is now a representative of such feelings towards Garrett and the Steelers, and we know which side he is on (not that we didn't already).
Steelers-Browns is a rivalry. It's okay to have strong emotions about a subject, especially if it involves a fight between several key players on both rosters. What does Kitchens have to hide? That he likes his players? That he favors Garrett to Rudolph?
Take a stand, Kitchens. Embrace the hate, rather than running away from it like Browns coaches of the past.