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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Players: ‘I can’t breathe’

Associated Press

A week after their “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!” show of solidarity, several St. Louis Rams players made another societal statement Sunday with the message: “I Can’t Breathe.”

The slogan refers to Eric Garner, who died after a New York police officer placed him in a chokehold during an arrest for selling loose cigarettes. A grand jury decided last week that it would not indict the officer. A video of the arrest showed Garner gasping, “I can’t breathe.” Several players had the words written on their equipment Sunday.

“I feel like we should support what we feel is right,” Rams guard Davin Joseph said. “We should always have an opinion of sticking up for people who don’t have a voice.”

Players at other NFL games expressed similar sentiments. Lions running back Reggie Bush had “I Can’t Breathe” written across his warmup shirt. Browns cornerback Johnson Bademosi wrote the message on the back of the shirt he wore before a game in Cleveland.

Plenty on the line tonight at Lambeau

Green Bay’s game tonight against the Atlanta Falcons isn’t generating quite the same buzz as the Packers’ victorious showdown the previous week with the Patriots, though this contest could be just as critical to each team’s playoff hopes.

Even the NFC North isn’t a lock for Green Bay. So long as Detroit stays a game back in the division, the Lions have a chance to unseat the Packers if they can win the regular- season finale at Lambeau. Detroit beat Green Bay in Week 3.

Just getting to .500 would be a bonus for Atlanta, 5-7 and atop the mediocre NFC South. The Falcons, though, have won three of four after beating injury-riddled Arizona last week.

Rams tweak ’Skins with captains

The Rams sent a message Sunday to the Redskins about who they think got the better end of the 2012 trade that allowed Washington to select Robert Griffin III with the second pick of that year’s draft.

While Griffin sat on the bench most of the game, St. Louis has six active players who were part of the three-year haul stemming from that deal. The Rams sent the six out as coin-toss captains before the game.

“I will always be remembered as (being a part of) that blockbuster trade,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “And, you know, the Rams won. The Rams won that one.”