The NFL has reportedly reached a nearly $90 million agreement with players’ representatives to provide financial support for the players’ community activism efforts.
The Washington Post reports that a source close to the negotiations says the agreement will provide nearly $90 million for causes deemed important by the players between the agreement’s signing and 2023, with a particular focus on issues facing the African-American community.
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NFL owners will have a chance to review the deal before deciding whether to adopt it. While the deal doesn’t directly address many players’ protests during the national anthem, some believed the agreement could result in an easement of tensions that have been building between players and owners for months.
The discussions occurred in New York between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a group of players known as the Players’ Coalition, which on Wednesday suffered a setback when San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid and Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas backed out of the group over how the leaders were dealing with league officials.
Tensions between the players and owners were exacerbated in September when President Trump said at a fiery campaign rally that NFL team owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem in protest against police violence.
Goodell himself has said that the league believes players should stand for the anthem, but has made no effort to punish players who choose not to.
Last week, the president again attacked the league for a rumored plan to keep players in the locker room during the national anthem to prevent on-camera protests.
“The NFL is now thinking about a new idea — keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “That’s almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!”