NFL shares details of social justice initiative

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY

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The NFL informed teams Friday about its commitment of $90 million over the next seven years for a three-pronged plan to work with players on social justice causes.

The initial $3 million comes from a grant approved this week by the NFL Foundation, the league said in a memo sent by chief operating officer Tod Leiweke that was obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Other funds will come from “cause related events and consumer products sales, auctions and other promotional sources” as well as contributions from clubs.

The initiative is the result of discussions with a group of players over the past several months who have been protesting racial inequality, police brutality and other social justice causes during the national anthem. Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, the leader of the Players Coalition, said Thursday he would no longer raise his fist during the anthem, as he has been doing since early last season.

Other players, however, are likely to continue their protests.

San Francisco safety Eric Reid, who was the first player to join former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to kneel in protest in 2016, was among a group of players who announced earlier this week they were leaving the Players Coalition. Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung followed Reid, and posted on Twitter Thursday that he encourages players to “continue to exercise their constitutional rights.”

Reid told reporters on Thursday that one of his concerns was that the NFL’s plan would not commit new money to social justice causes.

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The league’s memo on Friday disputed that. Leiweke wrote that the social justice initiative will “supplement and not replace” other NFL endeavors, like October’s cancer awareness month, Salute to Service events in November or the domestic violence prevention program.

Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s vice president for social responsibility, detailed the plan in a separate memo sent to teams on Friday. It will have three parts: the financial commitment, promotion of community work by players and access to government resources at local, state and national levels.

Isaacson wrote that the NFL will present to teams a “more thorough” plan at league meetings in March that will focus on local teams.

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