Trump previously received campaign contributions from several owners across the leagueGETTY IMAGES
President Trump’s criticism of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice "pushed the league to shift its stance" on the matter, according to depositions given in Colin Kaepernick's grievance case against the league cited by Andrew Beaton of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. League execs have "publicly repeated the NFL’s aim to stay out politics." However, they privately "made political calculations" in response to Trump’s "repeated hammering of the issue." Trump "didn’t mince words" last fall when he explained to Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones that he "wouldn’t relent in his criticism" of players kneeling. Jones in his deposition quoted Trump as saying, “This is a very winning, strong issue for me. Tell everybody, you can’t win this one. This one lifts me.” A White House official said that Trump was advising Jones on "what he believed would be good for the country and good for the sport." Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross in his deposition said, "I was totally supportive of (the players) until Trump made his statement." Ross noted that owners’ conversations with Trump were "relayed during a league meeting." Ross: “He changed the dialogue.” Beaton reports Kaepernick's grievance argues that Trump was an "'organizing force in the collusion' because of the president’s relationships with various NFL owners, many of whom have backed him with campaign contributions." The NFL last fall publicly "fought back" against Trump's comments at a campaign rally in Alabama and "touted the moment as a display of unity." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Trump’s comments “divisive” and then-NFL Exec VP/Communications & Government Affairs Joe Lockhart called Trump "out of touch." Lockhart said, “Everyone should know, including the president, that this is what real locker-room talk is." However, some owners were "upset with the comments" made by Lockhart, who they "believed was furthering the feud with the president." Lockhart "left the league after the season." Jones in his deposition said, “You cannot piss off a large percentage of your constituency." He said of Lockhart's departure, “I was proud to see him go” (WSJ.com, 5/30).
OPENING OLD WOUNDS? Panthers WR Torrey Smith said that NFL owners "reopened a national anthem debate that had all but died off with a 'reactive' policy that paints Colin Kaepernick and other protesters as 'villains.'" He said of the policy, "You're disappointed but not surprised because at the end of the day the league is all about money. It's a business." In Charlotte, Joseph Person notes Smith "applauded the NFL for its charitable donations and other work in the 'oppressed areas of our country and the underprivileged areas.'" However, he "believes the league sent a different message last week" with the new policy. Smith: "You have the league putting this in and it almost makes it seem like a guy like Kaepernick or Eric Reid or the guys who started originally, that what they did was in vain, like they were villains. And that’s not the case" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/30). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith disputed it made Kaepernick and Reid look like villains but more "individuals that weren't about the business of football." The owners have been "very successful at making themselves look out of touch, hypocritical, cowardice, and in some respects, idiotic. The owners damaged themselves more than they've damaged Colin Kaepernick or Eric Reid in this situation.” ESPN’s Max Kellerman said, “You could make the argument maybe more credibly that the NFL has made Kaepernick and Reid look more like martyrs than villains” (“First Take,” ESPN, 5/30).
MORE PLAYER RESPONSES: Eagles DE Chris Long said, "You think they'd be smarter than that, and they'd get the players involved and talk about it -- which they didn't. And it was a really overwhelming vote, and it happened quickly, and it's clumsy, because it opened another can of worms" (PENNLIVE.com, 5/29). Long added, "It's only going to get messier." Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins said the decision "lacks the empathy, the sympathy and context the players were looking for" (USA TODAY, 5/30). More Jenkins: "'Disappointed' is probably the best way to describe it. ... I’ve worked with the league and talked to the league about what we’re doing." He added that he had "not spoken" with Eagles Chair & CEO Jeffrey Lurie (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/30). Chargers OT Russell Okung said, "The NFL has proven that they want to work unilaterally, without consulting us on issues regarding our [CBA]. They're trying to change working conditions without consulting us, so we'll see where it goes." Okung, who was part of the original group of players who met in N.Y. last season with owners and execs, said that he has "heard from several players about the new policy since it was put in place." He added, "A lot of players are frustrated with the policy the NFL is trying to enforce here" (L.A. TIMES, 5/30). Bengals LB Vincent Rey said he felt the team's and his response will "fall in line with what they've done in the past." Rey said, "As a team the leaders will come to a decision and feel what everybody thinks and we'll communicate with coach [Marvin] Lewis as to what it is, like we've done before." Bengals WR A.J. Green said, "This is gonna cause some kind of feelings; between if some guys stay or some guys want to go out, then it becomes a problem" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/30).
