Roger Goodell says NFL was ‘wrong’ on protests, but offers no Colin Kaepernick apology
In a stunning admission, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a short video Friday afternoon in which he both apologized for failing to embrace the impact of police brutality on African Americans and welcomed player protests, while not acknowledging the man who first created headlines over the issue four years ago.
Goodell’s message was the third that the NFL released in six days. Last Saturday, the league issued a written statement that was lambasted for being heartless and hollow. On Thursday, Goodell issued a video in which he said “we can and need to do more.” Then, following a powerful video posted by 15 of the league’s top players on Thursday, the commissioner recorded his own personal message Friday in which he appeared to give the statement that the supports of the league’s black players, personnel and fans had been longing to hear.
“It has been a difficult time for our country, in particular black people in our country,” Goodell began saying. “First, my condolences to the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all the families who have endured police brutality. We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter.
“I will personally protest with you, and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country.
“Without black players, there would be no National Football League. And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff.
“We are listening. I am listening. And I will be reaching out to players who have raised their voices and others on how we can improve and go forward for a better and more united NFL family.”
The 81-second mea culpa seemed to receive initial positive reviews. ”Well said, Roger,” tweeted New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas, one of the organizers of the player’s video.
However, absent from Goodell’s statement was any mention of the player whofirst put the issue on the map, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 began taking a knee during the national anthem to call attention to certain social issues.
From the start, Kaepernick said he was protesting police brutality and the systemic oppression of black people, however, the narrative that followed was high-jacked by those who chose to ignore what the quarterback was saying. He was labeled un-American by his detractors, who opted to incorrectly simplify the matter by saying he refused to stand and respect the American flag.
By the end of the season Kaepernick was out of NFL.
Some fans may have seen the act of a man kneeling as a red, white and blue issue, but for most NFL executives the issue seemed to have more to do with another color. Green.
In a CNN column last Sunday, former NFL vice president Joe Lockhart said that while the league didn’t literally instruct teams not to sign Kaepernick following the 2016 season, they were unified in choosing money over his employment because of the potential backlash from President Donald Trump, fans and sponsors who were not on board with Kaepernick’s peaceful protests during the anthem.
“Signing Kaepernick, they thought, was bad for business,” Lockhart wrote. “An executive from one team that considered signing Kaepernick told me the team projected losing 20% of their season ticket holders if they did.”
Even though Kaepernick was no longer in the league, some players sought to continue the silent protests. Several of the league’s key team owners, including the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones, had been especially vocal following the first wave of player protests, going so far as to essentially threaten his players with unemployment if they didn’t fall in line.
Where the more strident owners like Jones go is anybody’s guess at this point. But after viewing the players’ video Thursday in which 15 of the NFL’s star players demanded action and asserted that player protests were all but certain to return this season, it was understandable that Goodell needed to act quickly. The players’ 70-second powerful video included the reigning Super Bowl MVP, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, among others.
In the video different players are seen reciting: “How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players? What will it take? For one of us to be murdered by police brutality?”
The players’ post was created in response to the now-infamous video showing the brutal killing of George Floyd, a black man who had been subdued on Minneapolis street by police nearly two weeks ago. The four officers who were involved in the incident were immediately fired and are now facing second-degree murder and other charges.
The public response has seen an avalanche of hundreds of protests in the United States alone, the likes of which have not been seen since the civil rights era of the 1950s and ’60s.
This story was originally published June 6, 2020 at 11:28 AM.
