NFL player putting money to his beliefs

The NFL continues to make headlines.

Unfortunately, all too many of them have little or nothing to do with what’s going on between those white lines.

Yes, they still play games. In case you haven’t noticed, the Eagles are 5-1 and some people consider them the best team in the NFL.

But fewer people are watching. Television ratings are down.

Since last year, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a stand – or make that a knee – during the pre-game ritual of the National Anthem, the league has been making as many headlines for what happens before the game as what happens during it.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Some players took a knee. Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins raised a fist. They wanted to shine a light on problems with the way minorities were dealt with by the law enforcement system. Not everyone got that point. President Trump upped the ante considerably when he urged NFL owners to fire any player who took a knee during the anthem. Owners joined players on the field before the anthem and took a knee, then locked arms in unity during the actual playing of the anthem.

Trump did not exactly relent. First Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a game in Indianapolis when players took a knee.

This week the players huddled with league owners and executives in New York City. The result? The league will not change its policy. It will not require players to stand during the anthem.

Something else happened off the field this week that could easily fly under the radar in the conflagration over the National Anthem dispute.

Eagles defensive end Chris Long announced he would donate the rest of the salary he will earn this year to a special fund to increase educational equality.

That follows his decision earlier this year to donate his first six game checks to establish the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign.

In essence, Long is playing this year for free.

Long made the formal announcement Wednesday at Mariana Bracetti Academy in Northeast Philly. He’s partnering with Summer Search, a national youth organization that focuses on bridging the education opportunity gap faced by low-income students.

Long is not your typical NFL player.

He was deeply affected this summer when white nationalists – some carrying tiki torches – marched through the streets of Charlottesville, Va., openly spouting hate speech.

Charlottesville is the home of the University of Virginia, Long’s alma mater. He grew up in the city and was clearly taken aback by what happened there. It was not the Charlottesville he knew.

He was vocal in taking a stand against such hate. He has taken to placing his hand on the shoulder of his teammate Jenkins as a show of support during the National Anthem.

Now he’s giving back. Actually he’s giving everything. He is donating his entire salary for this season to increase educational opportunities to kids who might otherwise not get that chance.

Long began his career in St. Louis and won a Super Bowl last year with the Patriots before signing as agent with the Eagles in the off-season. The two-year, $4.5 million deal called for base salary of $1 million in 2017.

Long is giving every penny of it away.

“My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality,” Long said. “I think we can all agree that equity in education can help affect change that we all want to see in this country.”

His foundation has selected four organizations whose missions focus on making education opportunities more readily available to underserved youth. It also helps young people develop a strong social and emotional character. The organizations are located in the three towns where Long has played.

“We have such a great platform as football players and hopefully fans get behind it,” Long said.

Imagine that. An NFL player making headlines off the field.

You’re All-Pro in our book, Chris.