New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch ripped President Donald Trump earlier this week, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the president “has no understanding” of why players kneel or protest during the national anthem, and that none of his players will be punished if they decide to protest in 2018.
“Hopefully he’ll have much more going on that he’s going have to deal with and should deal with and must deal with than worrying about what NFL players do,” Tisch said. “He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they’re protesting. When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do.
“We support our players. They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them.”
Tisch’s stance is interesting given that fellow Giants co-owner John Mara, who is also chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee, helped construct the initial anthem policy rule change earlier this year — a rule and decision he was quick to defend.
“We’ve been supportive of those in the past who have decided to protest, but I think we’ve gotten to a point now where it’s become such a divisive issue that I think it’s important that we come out of here with a policy that everybody can respect and adhere to,” Mara said in May while appearing on Sirius XM Radio.
“It’s an issue that is very divisive, [for] people on both sides of it. And you have to take the players’ feelings and views into account, as well. So we’re hopeful of coming out of this with some sort of policy that works.”
The NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement earlier this week stating that the two sides had reached a standstill and that no new policy would be officially instituted for several weeks while discussions continue.
https://t.co/4dEMTwzbLv pic.twitter.com/sMp8zInCZZ
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) July 20, 2018
Trump was quick to respond to the league’s sudden pause in moving forward with a new national anthem rule, demanding that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell take a stand.
The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again – can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. First time kneeling, out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2018
Trump has yet to respond to Tisch’s comments.
