The anti-American anthem protesters have waged war against Donald Trump.
In addition to disrespecting the flag and the anthem, the players have been outspoken in their antagonism toward Trump over his firm, pro-American stance.
But one anthem protester said something about Trump that caught everyone off guard.
The Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles had their White House visit canceled after the team tried to embarrass the administration.
The Eagles were noncommittal about sending a delegation of players and coaches and made scheduling the ceremony as difficult as possible.
At the eleventh hour, the Eagles said they were only sending one or two players, so the White House disinvited the team.
The Eagles tried to make themselves out to be martyrs, but the move was a clear act of defiance to generate headlines.
The activist ringleader of the group was defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of the anthem protests.
Jenkins and other like-minded players have refused to meet with Trump to discuss issues, but Jenkins’ new teammate Michael Bennett sang a different tune.
The former Seattle defensive end said he’d be willing to talk with Trump to open a dialogue over substantive issues.
During a radio interview, Bennett said:
“If you’re willing to listen and help us make a change, let’s go about it…If it’s an opportunity to change the way that America is, or change my communities, I’m always going to take those opportunities to express my needs and express the passion of other people. So, if the opportunity is a real one, I don’t mind taking the opportunity to do that.”
This comes as a shock because Bennett was one of the first players to follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead and sit down for the anthem.
He claimed he was racially profiled during an incident in a Las Vegas casino, but the video evidence suggested he was lying.
Bennett is also promoting a divisive book called “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable,” so he’s not the poster child for reaching across the aisle to have a real discussion.
Bennett addressed the concern of how any potential meeting with Trump would be perceived:
“It’s not so much about the perception of what people feel. It’s really about: Are we really going to make a change? Are you really willing to change the educational system? Are you willing to do more work on police reform? Are you willing to do something on bail reform? And how can you help us do that? If you can’t help us, then I guess we’ll move on.”
Unlike Jenkins and other members of the Eagles, Bennett seems willing to meet with the President.
The social cost could be great because the far left has done such a thorough job of demonizing Trump.
According to the hard left, nobody is allowed to be seen “normalizing” Trump. Retired wide receiver and current analyst T.J. Houshmandzadeh said that black players “can’t” visit the White House.
Far left political commentator Marc Lamont Hill called Steve Harvey, Ray Lewis, and other black men “mediocre negroes” for visiting Trump Tower after the November 2016 election.
And late-nite comic Jimmy Fallon issued an inane apology for treating Trump with cordiality during a 2016 interview.
The left has become so rabid; nobody is even allowed to discuss issues with Republicans. Instead, their new tactic is to chase them out of restaurants or movie theaters.
Despite the incivility, Trump has extended an olive branch to NFL players. After pardoning famed boxer Jack Johnson and elderly drug felon Alice Johnson, Trump asked the NFL coalition of protesters to suggest ideas for pardons.
Bennett hasn’t made any plans to talk with Trump, but if he does, it could be a signal to NFL players that Trump is willing to listen.
Trump is not a typical politician. He likes to make deals.
If the players could put their egos aside, they just might be able to find common ground and get something done.