The NFL has decided "not to respond directly" to President Trump's attack on the league regarding the national anthem and instead has decided to "focus on its theme of unity," according to Ben Volin of the BOSTON GLOBE. NFL Exec VP/Communications Joe Lockhart said that the league was "proud of the displays" from both the Cowboys and Cardinals before their game on Monday, which included an on-field appearance from Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones. Lockhart: "What you saw was driven by both teams wanting to make a statement, each in their own way, but completely united with their teams. All in the face of a lot of forces out there that have been divisive over the last three or four days. It was a strong showing of unity." Volin notes thousands of fans across the country "booed the players for their demonstrations, apparently viewing them as anti-flag, anti-military, or anti-police." Lockhart yesterday emphasized that the players and teams were "making a plea for equality and social justice" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27).
MOVING FAST: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Futterman & Beaton reported the NFL "entered a 24-hour scramble -- by text, telephone and email -- to take control of the narrative and deliver an effective response" following Trump's initial comments last Friday. There was a "feverish debate over how to respond to Trump," as many players and the NFLPA -- "emboldened and angry -- wanted to make a strident political statement." Some owners and the league "favored a broader message about unity in the face of the president’s criticism, with some wary of clashing with the president." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "stood in the middle, his authority limited by battles with both players and owners over controversial disciplinary decisions." The NFLPA "moved first," as officials early Saturday morning released a statement that said that the union "refused to apologize for its players’ decision to express their beliefs." Meanwhile, Goodell, Lockhart and fellow NFL officials Jeff Pash, Tod Leiweke and Troy Vincent "tried to unpack what had transpired." Among the first calls the league made Saturday morning was to Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, a Trump donor and friend, who "agreed that this attack was far different than the president’s previous comments about the league." Lockhart "pushed for the league to stress the game’s ability to bring together tens of millions of Americans from every background and race." The league "stayed in close contact with most of its owners but opted not to provide guidance beyond saying the team should express unity." With Ravens-Jaguars in London the first game of the day, Jags Owner Shahid Khan knew his approach "could set a precedent for the games to follow." After talking to players, coaches and execs, Khan told the NFL that he was "going to lock arms with his team" (WSJ.com, 9/26).
LOST IN THE FRAY: SI.com's Jenny Vrentas wrote the NFL this past week "did its best to respond with a message of unity." The word was "used in statements issued by team owners, and those who didn’t kneel tried to convey that message by linking arms on the sidelines." However, the meaning behind unity "lacked focus." Only a "handful of team statements directly referenced the president by title or name." And the issues that were the catalyst when Colin Kaepernick began the "wave of anthem demonstrations last year -- police brutality and racial inequality -- were not among the talking points" (SI.com, 9/26).
