Kenosha native Melvin Gordon 'emotional' discussing Blake shooting
The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin hit home for Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon.
Gordon is a native of Kenosha and felt especially impacted by Sunday's shooting.
"I was so emotional because I have family that was out there that seen the shooting, and that could have been them," Gordon said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "That could have been one of my family members getting shot in the back seven times. That could have been my family shot in the middle of the street - one of my family, one of my friends. And that was just so disheartening. ... It hurts even more when it hits at home - when it's at home in your own backyard, and it's your people."
The Broncos canceled practice Thursday and instead met as a team to discuss social justice issues. Gordon spoke in front of teammates he's known only for a few short months. He signed with Denver as a free agent in March.
"It was tough in general," he said of speaking in front of the team, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I just - any time Kenosha or anything that is brought up and I keep seeing it repeatedly, I just get emotional. I was getting emotional about it, and I just had to get it off my chest.
"This could happen in anyone's community. We have to be there for each other."