The NFL anthem protests persist.
It’s really starting to look like the NFL doesn’t value their fans at all; otherwise they would put a stop to these anti-American tactics.
And nowhere is that more obvious than with Roger Goodell’s recent decision.
Depending on whom you ask, the meetings between players, owners and NFL officials regarding the protests have either been going great with significant progress, or there’s been a lack of motivation to solve the issue.
As you can see, players continue to kneel during the anthem, so it appears no progress has been made.
And despite no longer being in the league, Colin Kaepernick clearly remains a divisive force in the NFL.
In fact, Roger Goodell recently reached out to Kaepernick for a private one-on-one meeting.
Sporting News reports:
“Colin Kaepernick’s attorney on Tuesday refuted the NFL’s claim that the former 49ers quarterback didn’t respond to an invitation to meet individually with commissioner Roger Goodell, Yahoo Sports reported.
The day showed just how fraught the two sides’ ongoing dealings are against a backdrop of Kaepernick’s labor grievance, accusing NFL owners of collusion, and players’ social-issue concerns and the league’s response to them.
Not only have Kaepernick and Goodell not met one-on-one, but they can’t even agree on the details of the invitation to do so.
Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, says league spokesman Joe Lockhart’s claim that an invitation Oct. 31 from NFL VP Troy Vincent went unanswered was false, and that Geragos countered the invitation Nov. 1 with an offer to meet with Goodell if a mediator was present.
The attorney said the NFL rebuffed a meeting that included a mediator.
“We responded immediately that Colin would be happy to attend,” Geragos told Yahoo Sports. “Because of the grievance, we asked that a mediator be present.
A mediator would ensure that the discussions were productive and confidential and not used as a public relations stunt or prop by the league. Colin’s proposal was rejected.”
Lockhart, however, called Geragos’ claim “disingenuous.”
“Troy reached out to Colin directly — not to his lawyer — and said, ‘If you want to come in, come in,'” Lockhart told Yahoo Sports. “This isn’t about his lawyer.
This isn’t about a mediator. The question of, ‘Has (Colin) been invited in?’ — the answer is yes.”
Kaepernick remains open to meeting with Goodell individually, the player’s camp told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday, but only to discuss social-justice issues.
Lockhart also says Goodell is willing to meet one-on-one to talk about social activism but won’t agree to a mediator being present.
Notes Yahoo Sports: “The back and forth between Kaepernick’s camp and the NFL has provided a window into the frustration that is developing between the league and players in recent weeks.”
But the real question here is what exactly will be gained if this meeting is had? What will be the topics of discussion?
Is it possible that Goodell wants Kaepernick to use his influence to ask the players to stand and save the league?
Could the one who started this all actually be the one to stop it?
It’s not very likely. And the fact that Goodell would want to meet with Kaepernick for any reason just makes fans even angrier.