Panthers players meet with team owner Jerry Richardson to discuss social issues

A group of Carolina Panthers captains and other team leaders met with team owner Jerry Richardson on Tuesday. The meeting was held because of frustrations some players feel because Richardson’s beliefs do not allow them to join the NFL protests.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said Richardson invited the players to his home to discuss “social issues affecting the league and solutions moving forward.”

The Panthers who met at Richardson’s include Cam Newton, Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly, Greg Olson, Ryan Kalil, Kurt Coleman, and Julius Peppers, per the Observer.

Newton told the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday that he was considering a demonstration during the national anthem. “It was popular to do something this past Sunday,” he said, “but there’s still an opportunity.”

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said via WFNZ-AM in Charlotte that the team didn’t do much, and was disappointed about it. “I think people were kind of scared to express that because how it would have made it look to [Richardson],” he said.

Munnerlyn added that he was waiting for Richardson to release a statement following Trump’s comments at a rally in Alabama. Trump said that NFL players who were “disrespecting the flag” should be fired by their respective team owners. Trump also referred to the players as “sons of bitches.”

Richardson finally did so on Monday, becoming the second to last owner to release a statement.

Richardson has said he doesn’t like the protests being in the game.

“Politicizing the game is damaging and takes the focus off the greatness of the game itself and those who played it,” Richardson said via the Observer on Monday.

Peppers stayed off the field for the national anthem this past Sunday. Depending on how the meeting with Richardson went, we could see more demonstrations by the team this upcoming week.