NFL Commissioner, Players Association Responds to Trump’s ‘Divisive’ Attack on Kaepernick

‘We Can No Longer Afford to Stick to Sports’

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke out early Saturday against Donald Trump’s attack on NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Late Friday, the president called Kaepernick a “son of a b*tch” for protesting racism and the oppression of people of color by taking a knee instead of standing for the National Anthem. 

“Whether or not Roger and the owners will speak for themselves about their views on player rights and their commitment to player safety remains to be seen,” Smith tweeted.

“This union, however, will never back down when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens as well as their safety as men who compete in a game that exploses them to great risks.”

Smith further noted that “we will never back down. We can no longer afford to stick to sports.”

For his part, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement as well.

“The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture,” Goodell said. He cited the “amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters” experienced as of late as an example.

“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL,” he continued, “our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”

This morning, the president turned his ire from football to basketball, lashing out at NBA’s Stephen Curry.

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