Giants co-owner attacks Trump, says team won't be punished for protesting anthem
As relations between the left and right of the American political spectrum continue to spiral into a domestic Cold War, the NFL continues to be used as a battleground.
And according to the Hollywood Reporter, Giants co-owner Steve Tisch fired a shot across the bow at President Trump Tuesday night.
Tisch was at the premiere of “The Equalizer 2,” which he had a hand in as a producer of the film, when he had the chance to talk to reporters.
On his mind, however, was not a film released to tepid reviews — it’s been called a “plodding, so-so action thriller” — but rather Tisch’s other job owning a professional football team.
In particular, Tisch referred to the NFL’s national anthem protest policy intended to punish players and teams who kneel before the flag as a political statement over what they see as systemic police brutality against African-Americans in the United States.
Regarding Trump, who has called for harsh punishments against players and teams, Tisch said, “Hopefully he’ll have much more going on that he’s going have to deal with, and should deal with, and must deal with, than worrying about what NFL players do.”
“He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they’re protesting,” Tisch added. “When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do.”
The NFL’s policy allows teams to fine players who violate the policy, which reduces to “stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room.”
Tisch said the Giants won’t be fining anybody.
“We support our players,” Tisch said. “They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them.”
The union filed a grievance against the NFL earlier this month, claiming the league instituting the anthem policy without the input or approval of the NFL Players’ Association violated the collective bargaining agreement between league and union, and as such should not be in place and enforced.
The NFL agreed to discuss the policy with union reps, but its position is clear, and the president’s position is equally uncompromising in calling for a hardline response to players who kneel.
“We’re here for a bigger platform,” Raiders tight end Jared Cook said during the spring. “We’re not just athletes. We’re people that live this. It’s people in our neighborhood, it’s people that we grew up with, it’s people that we know who are actually living through these circumstances. So when we speak on it, it’s not like we’re just speaking out of the side of our neck. It’s things that actually touch home and things that we can actually relate to.
“All I have to say is, I just think it’s sad that it’s veered from something that stood for good and the whole narrative has changed into something that’s negative when that was not what it was initially about in the first place.”
As the season begins, the new policy has driven a wedge between owners like Tisch, who are not marching in lockstep with the league, which brings management’s unity into question.
And with some owners taking the opportunity to slam the president along with defending their players, the already-struggling league, facing declining ratings, may find itself continuing to hemorrhage fans, especially if those who stand with the president see Tisch’s comments as a sign the league is soft on protest.
Abraham Lincoln, quoting Mark 3:25, said “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” And whether or not that’s true of the country as a whole in this era of civil cold war, the ratings show that it’s true of professional football.
The league has yet to comment on Tisch’s remarks.
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