Lurie credited Jenkins with doing a lot of difficult and hard work in the Philadelphia communityTwitter
Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie said that he has "never wavered in his support" of S Malcolm Jenkins' activism, the "causes that he's supported or the actions of players" such as WR Torrey Smith and DE Chris Long, according to Matt Lombardo of the Bergen RECORD. Lurie: "It doesn't waver. You can be baited into things. I'm not interested. These are the issues. The people that suffer, and are part of what vulnerable people have in America, they need to be supported. We define ourselves by our compassion for those who are less fortunate and vulnerable. That's what our players, and that's what I feel I want to support always." Earlier this season, Lurie was "criticized by some for not standing firm enough in his support for players protesting for criminal justice reform during the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'" Lurie "doubled down on his support of the players." Lurie: " Malcolm ... What a wonderful leader. He's a terrific football player. He does a lot of difficult and hard work in the community. He's been doing it ever since he got here. He's done it. It's the quiet work that he does, that's so impressive. I do support a lot of the issues that the players have brought up" (Bergen RECORD, 1/30). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes with Jenkins competing in Super Bowl LII, his "presence could blow up as one of the NFL's most prominent social activists." Jenkins has "carried the spirit that Colin Kaepernick ignited in NFL circles." Jenkins and Long were the two Eagles among a group of players who "met with Commissioner Roger Goodell and several NFL owners in October as the league reeled amid another crisis revolving around the national anthem protests." Jenkins is "quick to acknowledge how uncomfortable the protests makes some people." But he sees a "necessary cause, given societal issues that are 'important to the players who play this game, important to their families, their communities'" (USA TODAY, 1/30).
