Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins said that the next proposed meeting between NFL owners and players to "discuss social justice initiatives has been canceled," according to Dan Gelston of the AP. Jenkins following yesterday's win over the 49ers said, "The league didn't accept our invitation." Players proposed to meet today in Philadelphia, but Jenkins said that the league "cited scheduling and logistical issues." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy yesterday said, "Nothing is set, but the league is eager to continue the dialogue with the players." Jenkins said, "They want to get back to football; we want to move past anthem demonstrations. But to do that, we need to be able to replace the platform that we have." Gelston noted Jenkins "wants a venue outside the stadium and not during the anthem for athletes to raise awareness of social issues." Jenkins said of the protests, "We don't really enjoy doing this. We'd love to have a different platform and we think that's something we could work collaboratively on with the NFL to create, to actually draw awareness to the issues we're doing, to use the NFL as a vehicle to make real change." Jenkins declined to address a Slate.com report that stated Colin Kaepernick had been "iced out of discussions between owners and players." Jenkins and other players "had said Kaepernick was invited." McCarthy also "made it clear the NFL would like to include Kaepernick" (AP, 10/29).
INVITED OR NOT INVITED? SLATE's Jeremy Stahl reported Kaepernick has "not been included in conversations about past and future meetings between players and owners." Mark Geragos, who is representing Kaepernick, was asked about reports that his client had been invited to this week's player/owner summit. He replied, "We specifically reached out to the (NFLPA) and to the Players Coalition (the group led by Jenkins) and we were verbatim told that Colin had no role." Stahl noted Jenkins "previously said Kaepernick had been invited to an Oct. 17 meeting between players and owners." NFL Exec VP/Communications Joe Lockhart also said that he "expected Kaepernick to be invited to the next player/owner meeting." Lockhart: "We look forward to him joining the conversation." But Stahl noted these claims are "contradicted by emails between Kaepernick's legal team" and NFLPA officials. An email sent to NFLPA reps by one of Kaepernick's lawyers "notes that, as of Wednesday Oct. 25, Kaepernick had not been invited to any upcoming meetings" (SLATE.com, 10/29). Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Mike Sielski writes there is nothing in Jenkins' track record that "hints that he would 'make false statements' about Kaepernick or anything else related to this campaign." Jenkins has been an "honest and open broker, willing to listen to those who might disagree with him." Kaepernick's "attack" on Jenkins "comes off as petulance from a wannabe revolutionary who wants to feign commitment, who wants to pretends he's fighting the good fight but either is too scared to speak up or isn't equipped to do it." Sielski: "Either way, he's leaving the heavy lifting to Jenkins and others" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/30).
NOT GIVING UP THE FIGHT: In DC, Tracy Jan noted 49ers S Eric Reid, who has knelt during the national anthem since the start of last season, said that he "remains committed to the protest over police brutality." This is "despite his agent's warning that he could end up like Kaepernick and be blackballed from the NFL when his contract expires next year." Reid: "There is a risk that teams won't want to sign me because of my involvement, but I've come to terms with that. I believe what I'm doing is bigger than my career, and quite frankly we need more people to take that position. The system will only change via public pressure." Reid added that he "understands the financial pressures that the league and teams are under from sponsors and why most players may find it difficult to protest during the anthem." Reid said that he would "continue to use sports as a platform to send a message to young people to fight for racial justice" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/29). THE ATHLETIC's Lisa Olson wrote Reid has "emerged as a thoughtful beacon throughout this contentious and pivotal period in the NFL." Reid is "blessed to be vociferously backed" by 49ers CEO Jed York, whose "values and opinions have been shaped by living and working in an area that fosters inclusion and equality" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/29).
