CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Panthers team captains and other selected players met with owner Jerry Richardson at his home Tuesday to “discuss social issues affecting the league and solutions moving forward.”
Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said the conversations between the players and owner will remain private.
Richardson was one of the last NFL owners to release a statement in response to comments made by President Trump on Twitter regarding NFL players. The meeting was prompted by some players privately expressing frustration over not being able to express their views on social issues while playing for the Panthers for fear of potential repercussions.
A year ago, backup safety Marcus Ball raised his fist in support of Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the national anthem to protect social injustices. The following week he was released by the Panthers.
While hundreds of players around the NFL protested Trump’s tweets, none of Carolina’s players participated in pre-game protests on Sunday except 17-year veteran Julius Peppers. Peppers decided to remain in the tunnel for the national anthem, but told none of his teammates of his plan.