Eagles QB Carson Wentz explains why he decided to visit the White House
Despite some controversy over the team’s visit, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz expressed excitement at the opportunity to travel to the White House and meet the president.
As is the custom when a major U.S. sports team wins a championship, the White House recently extended a formal offer for the Super Bowl LII champion Eagles to visit on June 5 in order to celebrate their success.
"President Trump looks forward to welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House on June 5th to celebrate their Super Bowl LII win.” – White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters
— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) May 17, 2018
Of course, this year’s visit in particular was always going to be controversial due to the debate regarding NFL players who kneeled during the pregame playing of the national anthem this season.
That debate intensified after President Donald Trump, at a September rally, called for the “sons of b—–s” who don’t stand to be “fired.”
The remark drew the ire of countless NFL players, and the kneeling controversy raged on. Since then, Trump has not been particularly popular with the players who feel they are standing up against alleged widespread racial injustice.
Wentz, however, doesn’t see the visit as controversial, and he told reporters on Tuesday that his decision to go has absolutely nothing to do with politics.
“For me, personally, if the team decides as a whole, most guys want to go or be a part of it, I’ll be attending with them. I think it’s just a cool way to receive the honor nationally and be recognized,” Wentz said.
“I don’t personally view it — I know some people do, everyone has their opinion on it — I don’t view it as a political thing whatsoever. I don’t mess with politics very often. But I will be involved in going. The rest of the details will be coming out soon,” he added.
Carson Wentz on visiting the White House: pic.twitter.com/heHV2tasfi
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) May 22, 2018
Three players who were part of the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl — Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Torrey Smith — have all previously indicated they have no interest in visiting the White House.
“After the visit to the White House was scheduled for June 5, I know as a team we are trying to decide what exactly that looks like,” Jenkins told CBS Philadelphia last week. “I think there will be some other things on the list of places that are visited on the trip to D.C.”
“I personally won’t be going to the White House but I will be with the team,” he added.
Eagles head coach Pederson, meanwhile, called it “a great honor” to be invited to the White House. Still, he said it will be up to each individual player to decide if they want to make the trip.
“Excited to be going, to be honored as world champions,” Pederson said, per the team’s official website. “It’s a great honor. We’re still working through some logistics right now, so we don’t have all the logistics of the day, but excited to be going.”
Doug Pederson says team will go to White House on June 5. “We’re excited to be going. At the same time, it’s an individual (for the players) decision.”
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 22, 2018
“At the same time,” he added, “it’s an individual decision (for the players).”
It’s not clear exactly how many Eagles are planning to boycott the trip, but it’s not unprecedented for players to skip the White House visit.
Following the Patriots’ victory in Super Bowl LI, just 34 of the 68 invited players showed up to the White House, per NBC Boston.
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