Eagles coach makes WH announcement - 'It's an individual decision'
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has made an announcement regarding his team’s upcoming visit to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump.
As is the custom when a major U.S. sports team wins a championship, the White House recently extended a formal offer for the Super Bowl LII champion Eagles to visit on June 5 in order to celebrate their success.
"President Trump looks forward to welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House on June 5th to celebrate their Super Bowl LII win.” – White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters
— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) May 17, 2018
Addressing reporters Tuesday as the Eagles opened organized team activities, Pederson called it “a great honor” to be invited to the White House. Still, he said it will be up to each individual player to decide if they want to make the trip.
“Excited to be going, to be honored as world champions,” Pederson said, per the team’s official website. “It’s a great honor. We’re still working through some logistics right now, so we don’t have all the logistics of the day, but excited to be going.”
“At the same time,” he added, “it’s an individual decision (for the players).”
Doug Pederson says team will go to White House on June 5. “We’re excited to be going. At the same time, it’s an individual (for the players) decision.”
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 22, 2018
Controversy has risen up over the White House visit in the wake of the debate regarding NFL players who kneeled during the pregame playing of the national anthem this season. That debate intensified after Trump, at a September rally, called for the “sons of b—–s” who don’t stand to be “fired.”
The remark drew the ire of countless NFL players, and the kneeling controversy raged on. Since then, Trump has not been particularly popular with the players who feel they are standing up against alleged widespread racial injustice.
Three players who were part of the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl — Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Torrey Smith — have all previously indicated they have no interest in visiting the White House.
Eagles quarterback Cardon Wentz, however, has a unique view on the matter. He told reporters Tuesday that he likes the idea of being honored at the White House, and said he wants to attend the ceremony.
“For me, personally, if the team decides as a whole, most guys want to go or be a part of it, I’ll be attending with them. I think it’s just a cool way to receive the honor nationally and be recognized,” Wentz said.
“I don’t personally view it — I know some people do, everyone has their opinion on it — I don’t view it as a political thing whatsoever. I don’t mess with politics very often. But I will be involved in going. The rest of the details will be coming out soon,” he added.
Carson Wentz on visiting the White House: pic.twitter.com/heHV2tasfi
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) May 22, 2018
It’s not clear exactly how many Eagles are planning to boycott the trip, but it’s not unprecedented for players to skip the White House visit.
Following the Patriots’ victory in Super Bowl LI, just 34 of the 68 invited players showed up to the White House, per NBC Boston.
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