NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted in a recent interview that he wished he had listened to the peaceful protests enacted by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players a few years ago. Kaepernick was the first player to protest in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
Kaepernick initiated the protests by kneeling during the ceremonial playing of the US national anthem, a gesture that has since been replicated by a number of other players. Kaepernick and the other protesters were quickly drawn into a firestorm of media controversy, based on allegations that they were disrespecting the American flag by not standing up.
One of the most notable critics of Kaepernick and protesters is US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly attacked these players on social media. The NFL initially ignored Kaepernick and other players who protested but have now changed their stance.
Goodell confirmed this change of chance in an interview with Emmanuel Acho, a former National Football League (NFL) linebacker and current Fox Sports 1 analyst.
Emmanuel Acho
Goodell was emphatic about NFL players being well within their rights to protest. Waving away any allegations of disloyalty or sedition, Goodell stated that Kaepernick and the protesters were just making use of their platform in the NFL to reveal problems that needed fixing. This was their right as Americans and something that the NFL fully supported.
The commissioner said that many white Americans are shielded from the reality that black people are targeted by their police. This is because white communities are often policed much less harshly. However, with George Floyd’s death, the issues became too large to ignore.
NFL playing rosters are comprised primarily of African-Americans, many of whom are acutely aware of the racial issues underlying policing in the US. Goodell admitted that he and the NFL failed to address the protesters’ concerns immediately, but has committed to doing all he can to help the African-American communities the NFL draws most of its talent from.
Emmanuel Acho said he was happy to hear that Goodell was finally supporting BLM after the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. Acho would also ask Goodell why he has not spoken to Kaepernick who has been treated as an outcast by the NFL ever since his protests. Kaepernick has not played an NFL game since and is currently not signed.
Goodell said that he and the league had invited Kaepernick to meet numerous times, but their arrangements simply fell through. Goodell stated that he wished they had a chance to meet and talk soon. The way things appear as of now, it looks like Kaepernick could get back into the NFL soon.
About The Author
