Goodell fires back, calls Trump's comments 'divisive'

Sep 24, 2017 - 1:00 AM NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fired back in response to President Donald Trump's "divisive comments" about players protesting during the pregame national anthem.

Trump was speaking at a political rally in Huntsville, Ala., on Friday night when he took on the NFL and its players.

"We're proud of our country. We respect our flag," Trump said to loud applause at the campaign event. "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He's fired! He's fired!'"

Goodell responded Saturday with a statement:

"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month.

"Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, 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."

Later Saturday afternoon, Trump repeated his message via Twitter.

"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem," Trump tweeted. "If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"

The NFL Players Association earlier declared the "union will never back down" in supporting players' rights.

"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," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement posted to Twitter on Saturday morning. "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 exposes them to great risks."

Now-unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew national attention last season while playing for the San Francisco 49ers when he knelt during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice. A number of players followed Kaepernick's lead by taking a knee during the anthem.

Trump said an NFL owner who releases a player for kneeling during the anthem would gain support across America.

"Some owner's gonna do that. He's gonna say, 'That guy that disrespects our flag? He's fired," Trump told the crowd Friday night. "And that owner ... he'll be the most popular person in this country. Because that's total disrespect of our heritage. That's total disrespect of everything we stand for.

"The only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it's just one player, leave the stadium. I guarantee things will stop. Things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave. Not the same game anymore, anyway."

Although several team owners donated to Trump's campaign and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is serving as the ambassador to England under Trump, various teams released statements condemning Friday's comments.

"Our country needs unifying leadership right now, not more divisiveness," Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. "We need to seek to understand each other and have civil discourse instead of condemnation and sound bites. I know our players who kneeled for the anthem and these are smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone.

"They wanted to start a conversation and are making a difference in our community, including working with law enforcement to bring people together. We all can benefit from learning, listening and respecting each other. Sports is a common denominator in our world. We all have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect and equality."

Said San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York:

"The callous and offensive comments made by the President are contradictory to what this great country stands for. Our players have exercised their rights as United States citizens in order to spark conversation and action to address social injustice.

"We will continue to support them in their peaceful pursuit of positive change in our country and around the world. The San Francisco 49ers will continue to work toward bringing communities, and those who serve them, closer together."

In another statement, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank said:

"We are at our very best when we are working together, building unity and including everyone's voice in a constructive dialogue. Creating division or demonizing viewpoints that are different than our own accomplishes nothing positive and undermines our collective ability to achieve the ideals of our democracy.

"The NFL has historically been a strong catalyst for positive change and I'm proud of the way our players, coaches and staff use that platform to give back to our community and strive to be good citizens making a positive impact on this and future generations."