The NFL was wrong to not listen to players who peacefully protested, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement and video issued by the league.
The statement was stronger than the one he issued last week in the wake of the George Floyd killing and the subsequent protests. But Goodell did not mention 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick by name Friday, and the release came at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time — a slot that typically earns fewer media views than the rest of the work week.
“It has been a difficult time for our country — in particular, black people in our country,” Goodell said.