Demario sees a positive end to anthem

THE TWO Jets who attended Tuesday’s meeting with NFL owners refused to answer questions Wednesday about the meeting or why they believed it was productive. LB Demario Davis and OT Kelvin Beachum were at the meeting on their off day. Davis offered a verbal statement Wednesday in which he predicted a nottoo-distant end to the protests. Beachum opted to “lean on the statement that the NFL and the NFLPA put out yesterday.”

The meeting, which took place in New York and included players, owners, NFL executives and NFL Players’ Association executives, was held in an attempt to find common ground between those protesting racial injustice during the national anthem and owners who have condemned such action.

“I will say that the talks were very productive,” Davis said. “It’s encouraging to me as an athlete to see so many athletes and owners so concerned about our country and pushing in the right direction. We have a tremendous platform in the NFL, and to whom much is given, much is required. And that’s why we simply can’t just play football.

“We have to help push our country in the right direction, and it’s encouraging to see the owners and the athletes wanting to do that. … I do think that we are very near a time where the protests will end, and athletes and owners will be at the forefront of social change for our country in a positive manner. And so I’m very excited about that.”

When given an opportunity to use that “tremendous platform” to explain why the “talks were very productive,” Davis refused. He was asked two follow-up questions. Davis answered both with “Miami” and nothing else. The Jets play at the Dolphins this weekend.

Here is what the NFL said in its statement, released Tuesday directly after the meeting: “Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities. NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change. We agreed that these are common issues and pledged to meeting again to continue to work together.”