The NFL appears interested in social justice reform, but Chargers tackle Russell Okung isn’t buying the talk from the league office.
Okung attended the recent meeting in New York with other NFL players, owners, union and league representatives, but the lack of action since then may prompt him and others to skip next week’s scheduled meeting.
"NFL officials appear unmotivated and don't share the same sense of urgency. Increasingly, the meetings appear unproductive at best and disingenuous at worst,” Okung said (via ESPN.com). “Furthermore, the ongoing disparagement of Colin Kaepernick is a factor needing remedy for the players and public to feel heard and for real progress to be made."
Kaepernick is expected to be invited to Tuesday’s meeting in New York.
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Reports before the first meeting Oct. 17 said players wanted a month dedicated to social justice. After the meeting, the NFL said it wouldn’t mandate standing for the national anthem, pledged to support programs to effect social change on the issues and Commissioner Roger Goodell and Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, which would reduce minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders.
But Okung expected more.
"I thought there were concrete plans to help," Okung said. "To my dismay, that wasn't true at all. It's only remained as just talking. There hasn't been any action.
"It's disappointing, because anytime the NFL says it cares about something, like breast cancer awareness, domestic violence, concussions, it comes out in force. So far we haven't seen that."