The NFL issued a statement Wednesday morning accusing the media of spreading lies about commissioner Roger Goodell’s stance on the national anthem.
It had previously been reported that Goodell told owners that “everyone should stand for the National Anthem.”
President Trump even tweeted, “It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY.”
It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017
The NFL must not have appreciated Trump’s tweet because their statement appears to refute the President’s claim about “demanding that all players STAND.”
The league’s statement says the following, according to Adam Schefter:
Commentary this morning about the Commissioner’s position on the Anthem is not accurate. As we said yesterday, there will be a discussion of these issues at the owners meeting next week. The NFL is doing the hard work of trying to move from protest to progress, working to bring people together. Commissioner Goodell spent yesterday with Miami Dolphins players, law enforcement and community leaders witnessing first-hand the outstanding work our players and clubs are doing to strengthen their communities. Players from around the league will be in New York next week to meet with owners to continue our work together.
It looked like Trump was winning the war with the NFL, but now it looks like the league is pushing back a little. We won’t get a final decision on what is going to happen until those meetings are held next week.