Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not attend Tuesday’s league meeting
Embattled former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not receive an invitation to attend Tuesday’s meeting with NFL players, owners, and union representatives in New York. Tuesday’s discussions were aimed at addressing the social issues that have been raised by players’ ongoing protests during the national anthem.
The free agent Kaepernick, who is currently suing all 32 owners for allegedly colluding to blackball him, ignited the protests during the 2016 preseason when he refused to stand during the national anthem as a way to raise awareness about inequality and police violence against minorities.
‘Colin Kaepernick was not invited to attend today’s meeting by any official from the NFL or any team executives,’ read a statement by Kaepernick’s attorney, which was tweeted by NFL reporter Jason La Canfora. ‘Other players wanted him present and have asked that he attend the next meeting with the goal of forging a lasting and faithful consensus around these issues. Mr. Kaepernick is open to future participation on these important issues.’
However, an NFL spokesman denied that it was the decision of the league or its owners to keep Kaepernick out of the meeting.
‘The player leadership council (made up of players) and the NFLPA arranged for the players that participated in the meeting today,’ explained an NFL spokesman.
Protesters gather outside of the Conrad Hotel where the NFL owners and players met Tuesday
Former NFL player Anquan Boldin (left) Philadelphia Eagles Malcolm Jenkins (center) and San Francisco 49ers Eric Reid (right) speak to the press outside the league’s headquarters
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins said Kaepernick was invited but did not attend, which is a claim that Kaepernick’s attorney disputed.
Kaepernick did leave open the possibility of him contributing in future meetings.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly said the league never asked the players for any commitment to stand for the national anthem.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross called Tuesday’s meeting ‘constructive’ and Colts defensive back Darius Butler referred to them as ‘positive.’
A group of 11 owners and more than a dozen players met at the league’s headquarters. Among the topics discussed was enhancing the players’ platforms for speaking out on social issues.
‘We heard what they had to say and they heard us,’ Ross said. ‘It’s open talks and that’s a good thing.’
Ross said the NFL’s policy on the national anthem ‘did not come up.’ That policy states that the players ‘should’ stand for the anthem, and some have suggested the league would seek to change that to ‘must’ stand. Goodell said in a memo to the teams last week that the NFL prefers for players to stand during ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
Butler, who played Monday night in Nashville before attending the meeting hours later, said both sides are headed in the right direction. He said the players delivered ‘our perspective. Obviously it’s a different perspective. I think that’s the most important thing when it comes to these issues is perspective and respecting everyone’s rights regardless of how they feel.’
New York Giants co-owner John Mara (left) and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (right) arrive at Tuesday’s league meeting in Manhattan to discuss social issues and player protests
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (left) and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Moreno (right) arrive at the league meetings in Manhattan on Tuesday
The players’ union and the league issued a joint statement just before the annual fall owners meetings began.
‘Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities,’ the statement said. ‘NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change. We agreed that these are common issues and pledged to meet again to continue this work together.
‘As we said last week, everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military. In the best American tradition, we are coming together to find common ground and commit to the hard work required for positive change.’
On hand at the meeting were Goodell and the league’s football operations chief, former player Troy Vincent; and owners Michael Bidwill (Arizona), Arthur Blank (Atlanta), Terry Pegula (Buffalo), Robert McNair (Houston), Shad Khan (Jacksonville), Ross, Robert Kraft (New England), John Mara (New York Giants), Art Rooney (Pittsburgh), Jeffrey Lurie (Philadelphia) and Jed York (San Francisco).
Jay W. Walker of Rise and Resist speaks alongside protesters outside of the Conrad Hotel in Manhattan, where the NFL owners meetings took place on Tuesday
Representing the players were NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, union president Eric Winston, former player Anquan Boldin, and current players Butler (Indianapolis), Russell Okung (Los Angeles Chargers), Kenny Stills, Julius Thomas and Michael Thomas (Miami), Mark Herzlich (New York Giants), Kelvin Beachum and Demario Davis (New York Jets), Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long (Philadelphia), Eric Reid (San Francisco) and Josh Norman (Washington).
Earlier, outside of the hotel where the owners are meeting, two dozen supporters of Black Lives Matter New York held a rally backing the players for speaking out – particularly Kaepernick. Demonstrations during the anthem increased when President Donald Trump called the players unpatriotic if they knelt during the anthem, with both players and league executives saying the meaning of the protests has been misconstrued by the president and his supporters.
At a game earlier this month, Vice President Mike Pence walked out of Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium after several 49ers knelt during the anthem.
Also Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was confronted by two people in the lobby of the Manhattan hotel where the owners are meeting. The protesters shouted at him about the issue of white supremacy while Jones was surrounded by bodyguards. Jones stopped to listen but said nothing, and the protesters were peacefully led away.
Demonstrators rally outside the NFL owners meeting in Manhattan on Tuesday