A group of 11 NFL players, including Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin, has invited Texans owner Bob McNair, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a meeting in Philadelphia Monday, ESPN.com reports.
There’s no word yet on whether the invitations will be accepted.
The players’ request is in response to McNair saying during the owners meetings earlier this month, "We can't have the inmates running the prison," regarding player protests during the national anthem. The goal of Monday’s meeting would be to discuss "immediate concerns before additional progress can be made" around sports’ role in social and political issues facing the country.
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McNair, however, met with the Texans players Saturday morning, and while many perceived his comments to be racist, he says he was not even referring to players. The inmates analogy was made in reference to the league office’s relationship with the NFL’s 32 team owners, he said.
Players don’t seem to be buying McNair’s explanation.
"Many players have been deeply troubled by the disturbing comments made by Texans' owner Bob McNair," the letter of invitation said. "It is ironic that such a quote would emerge in the midst of an ongoing struggle to highlight injustices suffered by people of color, including our nation's deeply flawed approach to criminal justice and inhumane treatment of imprisoned people. The events that have unfolded the past several days have upset and angered many players and continues to demonstrate the lack of seriousness that some league officials are approaching our discussions. It is this lack of earnest words and actions that provoke and reinforce the continuation of our protest.”
The sharply-worded letter continued, "Regardless of our views, our disappointment and our frustration, we believe dialogue remains the only path forward, though our patience is being continually disrespected and is wearing thin."