Birds get back to work, but vow to continue fight
The Eagles put politics aside Tuesday to do what they do best.
That would be football, for those still angry the Eagles had their invitation to visit the White House revoked. And also for those who think the Eagles got what they deserved after informing President Donald Trump’s people that only nine of the 53 players on their Super Bowl LII champion roster would have attended the White House celebration.
The Eagles practiced Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex. The session was closed to the media. The Wednesday and Thursday practices are open and the players are scheduled to be available.
While the Eagles did their thing Tuesday, the politicians did theirs, mostly ripping Trump for rescinding the invite. Anything but deal with the real issues. A good start for Delco and Chester county politicos would be addressing the dangerous safety issues with the Mariner East pipeline construction impacting neighborhoods and schools.
U. S. Congressman Ryan Costello, who represents areas of Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Lebanon counties, used his personal Twitter account to criticize the president.
“Eagles my fave team. Super Bowl win so meaningful as Philly sports fan. POTUS handled poorly. This is a depressing
commentary on our political culture, very deflating to me. Was really excited for today. As a fan who bleeds green. Not going to WH. Disappointed in all of this.”
On Monday, Trump cancelled the Eagles’ visit to the White House. He played the patriotic card, and targeted veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, who among other NFL players, demonstrated during the national anthem for a chunk of last season.
Fox News raised the ire of Jenkins and teammate Chris Long, who also has been vocal about the new NFL rule banning anthem demonstrations. The duo thinks the ban infringes on their freedom of expression.
For whatever reason Fox News intimated the Eagles knelt during the national anthem, which didn’t happen last season.
Long tweeted “Imagine wanting to please the boss so very badly that you run stills of guys knelt down PRAYING during pregame.
“Not one Eagles player knelt for the anthem this yr. Keep carrying his water to sow division while misrepresenting Christian men. Aren’t many of your viewers.. nevermind.”
Jenkins put out a statement the length of a fullpage newspaper ad. He said he would continue his fight to resolve social injustices and he ripped Fox for the kneeling stills, as Long termed them.
“The decision was made to lie, and paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-f lag and anti-military,” Jenkins tweeted. “We will continue to fight for impacted citizens and give a voice to those who never had one. #TheFightContinues.”