The debate in the NFL over players who have protested racial injustice during the national anthem revived again strongly this Friday, as President Trump rekindled his war with the league on that issue and league commissioner Roger Goodell. , issued stronger support for players trying to fight racism and police brutality.
In a quick response to a video showing prominent players requesting that the league fix systemic racism, Goodell said he apologized for not listening at first to the concerns of African-American players, saying he supports the right they have to protest peacefully.
During the 2016 season, Colin Kaepernick started the movement within the league when he knelt down to draw attention to racial injustice and police violence, but no team has offered him a contract since then.
Goodell’s comments were diametrically opposed to those of the president, who defended Drew Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, who said this week that it was disrespectful to kneel while listening to the anthem before games.
After quick criticism from fellow NFL players, including some of his teammates, Brees apologized Thursday.
But the president said on Twitter that Brees should not have given in to the pressure and that everyone should stand when listening to the national anthem.
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