Michael Bennett on Roger Goodell’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ message: ‘Almost like a slap in the face’

For NFL free agent defensive end Michael Bennett, Commissioner Roger Goodell’s declaration of “Black Lives Matter” and support of players’ protests still came up short. 

“(Goodell) saying that Black Lives Matter is almost like a slap in the face,” Bennett told The Daily Beast. “Black talent has been exploited at a high level in the NFL. He knows Black Lives Matter, because without black players the NFL wouldn’t be as lucrative as it is.” 

Bennett was one of the league’s most outspoken and critical voices regarding social justice issues over the past few years, both before and after Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the national anthem. 

Last week, a number of star black players demanded action regarding racial injustice and systematic racism in a joint video, which prompted Goodell’s recorded statement.

Bennett is now waiting to see the NFL, which on Thursday committed $250 million to social justice causes over the next 10 years, put meaningful action behind the words. The league on Friday announced it will observe Juneteenth on June 19 as a holiday and close its offices.

“We have to continuously push the NFL to change its core values and change its moral compass on a consistent basis,” Bennett told The Daily Beast. “If not, shame on us and shame us for real.” 

Bennett, who played last season for the Dallas Cowboys, said it’s not only Goodell who must be held accountable, but owners too — especially the ones who have financially supported President Donald Trump. 

“If you’re supporting him, then your letter is really null and void,” he told The Daily Beast.

Bennett has tackled racial issues for some time. His memoir, published two years ago, is titled “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable.”

In 2017, Bennett said he believed he was the victim of racial profiling by Las Vegas police when officers handcuffed him and one allegedly held a gun to his head. 

Bennett, 34, won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2013 season. The three-time Pro Bowl selection began his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cowboys and New England Patriots. 

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.