NFL players past and present want more action from owners

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Black players will continue to be frustrated and feel as though their voices aren’t being heard if there aren’t people in the decision-making rooms who look like them,” Thomas said. “I think more should be done to diversify not just the coaching staff of the NFL ranks but also the owners and all of upper management.” Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie is one of the most proactive owners in the league along with Miami’s Stephen Ross, Jacksonville’s Shad Khan, Atlanta’s Arthur Blank, Minnesota’s Zygi Wilf and Pittsburgh’s Art Rooney II. “Until every individual owner starts doing something and not hide behind the shield, I personally feel like it’s not going to mean anything,” Jackson said. To me, that just doesn’t do anything.” League owners have come a long way since Jerry Jones demanded a few years ago that players on the Dallas Cowboys must stand for the national anthem, and declared his team wouldn’t play if anyone was “disrespectful to the flag.” Now, many owners say they understand that the movement Colin Kaepernick started in 2016 was meant to protest against racism and point out police violence.