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Cardinals' Michael Bidwill: NFL Players Should 'Restrict' Game-Day Statements
July 11, 2018
Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill expressed support Tuesday for NFL players speaking out about social issues, but he called for them to place their focus elsewhere on game days.
According to ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss, Bidwill discussed his stance on players having a voice on topics other than football:
"I think it's important to speak up. People are saying stick to sports? You know what? We ask our players 20 days a year—game days—to restrict their statements. The rest of the days, we want our players to get engaged in the community. Just like I am and other owners are.
"In fact, I'm working with [an NFL] committee called the Social Justice Committee, where we're working with players across the league to get them more involved in changing policy and making America a better place for everyone."
Bidwill's comments came after he publicly supported Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who was his high school classmate.
Bidwill's comments came nearly two months after the NFL passed a new policy regarding the national anthem.
During the 2018 season, teams will be fined if it is determined that players or personnel are disrespecting the national anthem or the flag.
Players will have the option of staying in the locker room during the playing of the anthem as an alternative to kneeling during it.
The practice of kneeling during the anthem began two years ago when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the first to do it in an effort to protest social and racial injustice in the United States.
Teams will now be subject to league punishment should their players do something similar, and teams will be permitted to punish the individual players involved if they so choose.