Packers President Says Team Should Support Players Who Kneel

GREEN BAY, WI — One month after the NFL ended its ban on players kneeling on the sideline during the playing of the National Anthem, Green Bay Packer President and CEO Mark Murphy said it's important to support the players who are trying to bring an end to racial inequality.

In a question-and-answer session posted Saturday on Packers.com, Murphy took the time to answer questions from readers.

One reader, who identified himself as Paul from Racine, challenged Murphy on several points, saying, in part:

"Why do you continue to alienate your fan base? 50 years of game days gone. I am done. 1. Kneeling is very offensive to me. I love our country. I served. DO IT ON YOUR TIME NOT MINE! 2. All lives matter. 3. Blue Lives Matter. The NFL has no spine. Your freedom comes from those that protect you. 4. Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization."

In 2018, the NFL banned kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem after NFL owners unanimously approved the requirement that all players stand on the field during the anthem. The policy also gave players the option of remaining in the team's locker room until the anthem finished playing.

In June, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league’s ban on players taking the knee was wrong. “We were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier, and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” Goodell said in a statement.

Murphy addressed Paul's litany of points by talking at length about supporting his players' right to kneel during the National Anthem that is played before NFL games.

As he wrote, Murphy emphasized that players who kneel are "bringing attention to systemic racism and police brutality."

Here is his full response to Paul from Racine:

Thanks for sharing your views, Paul. With all due respect, though, I must say that I don't agree with most of your thoughts.

We are not trying to alienate our fan base, and think it is important to support our players. I am very proud of our players and support their right to peacefully protest as they try to bring about meaningful change in our society.

When players kneel, they are not disrespecting the flag or the country, but bringing attention to systemic racism and police brutality. Black Lives Matter is not a terrorist or Marxist organization, and I know that they are trying to bring an end to racial inequality.

The NFL has decided to play "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (commonly referred to as the Black national anthem) as part of the broadcasts for all games in the first weekend.