The NFL and a group of players have reached a deal to "partner on a plan to address social justice issues considered important to African-American communities," according to Trotter & Reid of ESPN.com. The "unprecedented agreement calls for the league to contribute" $89M over seven years to projects "dealing with criminal justice reform, law enforcement/community relations and education." Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins and former NFLer Anquan Boldin as part of the Players Coalition led the "roughly 40 players who have negotiated with the league office about demonstrations during the national anthem." The initiative "represents the NFL's largest contribution to a social issue, surpassing that of Salute to Service or Breast Cancer Awareness/Crucial Catch." The agreement came after some players "broke away from the Players Coalition because of their dissatisfaction with how Jenkins and Boldin have handled negotiations." A source said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, "believing that an agreement was at hand, was furious" when it was "reported that players were breaking off." Jenkins later in the day asked that Goodell and team owners "continue to stand with the players and allow them to do important work in the community." Trotter & Reid report the agreement does "not include language calling for players to end protests during the national anthem in exchange for funds," but the NFL "hopes this effort will effectively end the peaceful yet controversial movement" that Colin Kaepernick started last season. Goodell and NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent have long tried to "find common ground with players who took a knee and raised fists in an effort to shine a light on racial injustice." Under the league's proposal, the $89M has been earmarked for "both national and local projects." On the national level, owners this year will allocate $5M, with their commitment "growing annually and maxing out" at $12M per year from '21-23. At the local level, owners would "put up $250,000 annually and expect players to match that amount, totaling $500,000 for each team." Of the national funds, 25% will go to the United Negro College Fund, 25% to Dream Corps and 50% to the Players Coalition (ESPN.com, 11/29).
BEST INTERESTS NOT IN MIND: ESPN.com's McManus & Wagoner reported 49ers S Eric Reid claims Jenkins kicked Kaepernick "out of the Players Coalition" and cited that as naming one of his reasons for "splitting from the group." He said, "Malcolm kicked Colin out of the coalition following the meeting in New York at the beginning of the season. There was a group message, I guess he was the administrator of that message, and he took Colin out." However, Jenkins via a statement "refuted Reid's claim." Jenkins: "I've talked with Colin numerous times about being a part of the Coalition. He thought it would be best to work and support us in an informal capacity." Reid said that Jenkins "had conversations with the NFL" without him being involved. Reid also said that Jenkins "told the NFL the players would end demonstrations if money was donated by the league to certain initiatives." Reid: "That was never discussed at any point. I feel like I've been misled" (ESPN.com, 11/29). Reid said of the NFL's donation proposal, "It's apparent the NFL is trying to buy an end to the protests." He added Goodell is "trying to buy our silence" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/30). In DC, Mark Maske notes Reid is "closely associated" with Kaepernick, and the defections of Reid and Dolphins S Michael Thomas from the Players Coalition "seem to greatly reduce the chances that the agreement will end the players' protests entirely" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/30).
FORK IN THE ROAD: SI.com's Albert Breer writes those on both sides "acknowledge that there's one group of players looking forward and another looking back." The group looking forward, led by Jenkins and Boldin, is "focused on pushing the process, and this landmark deal is a clear sign of how far they've come." The one looking back "isn't interested much in doing anything with the league" until Kaepernick gets a job. The concern now is that these "cracks in the foundation of the movement" that Kaepernick started could "undermine the deal that the coalition struck and the good will built between the sides." As those involved see it, no matter how the deal is finalized, it is "important that the league and players emerge from it united and committed to seeing it through" (SI.com, 11/30).
 |
| Reid (r) leaving the coalition suggests protests may not end despite the agreement |
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover notes Jenkins "took the high road" yesterday on the matter involving Reid. He said, "In my mind, nothing has changed. You got the players that want to draw attention to issues in their communities and who want to make a significant impact on those issues. We've been trying to work through the league to try to find effective ways in doing that and we've been making progress in that direction." Jenkins said that he spoke with Reid on Tuesday and was "not given the courtesy of being warned" that Reid was "backing out of the coalition" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/30). Jenkins said of the claim that he and Boldin had not listened to Reid and Thomas' concerns, "Whenever you get as many players as we have involved in the coalition -- we've got guys represented from almost every team -- there's always differences of opinion. But I feel like everybody's been included, they've been informed and it's been a pretty transparent process. So I was a little bit surprised that they separated themselves, but I understand a lot of these things are personal, and guys want to make sure whatever they are doing or getting involved in speaks to their heart and is something they feel comfortable getting behind" (PENNLIVE.com, 11/29).
EASY SOLUTION FOR NFL: Thomas said of his decision to leave the Players Coalition, "It came down to this latest proposal being something I can't put my name on. ... It's not significant enough for me. Way more can be done. ... We tried to have more guys included in that. Not enough people felt they were included in the right way." Dolphins WR Kenny Stills said, "This whole thing could have gone a different way if the league got out there and spoke out against the things we're talking about, the things we're protesting for. That was part of the reason" (MIAMI HERALD, 11/30). Thomas and Stills said that they do "not doubt that the NFL is attempting to quash the kneeling controversy by simply writing a check." In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes Thomas "issued a plea for support from the league." Thomas: "We've been saying this from the jump this year. If we just get a statement -- not even a monetary donation -- if we just get a statement saying, 'Yes, we support our players and the cause that they're fighting for and we agree that something needs to be done,' and it genuinely comes from the league -- we've been telling them we will stand. We've seen no such thing" (PALM BEACH POST, 11/30).
