Some Eagles players plan White House visit alternatives

PHILADELPHIA – Malcolm Jenkins said the Eagles will go to Washington as a team, but they won't all be going to the White House.

The White House invited the Eagles to visit on June 5. Eagles coach Doug Pederson confirmed Tuesday that the team accepted the invitation, but added that logistics are still being worked out.

Jenkins, the Eagles safety, is one of many players who have said he won't go to the White House, and he has expressed his opposition to President Donald Trump's policies in the past. Defensive end Chris Long is among other players who said he won't visit the White House.

Jenkins said many players are planning alternative community events in Washington while those who want to go to the White House can do so. But he added that the players all met as a team and decided that they will all go to Washington.

"Some guys dream of going to the White House when they win the Super Bowl," Jenkins said. "I don’t think we should deny anyone that opportunity. Some guys feel really strongly about not going ... I think we’ll make it flexible enough where guys can do what they want to do."

Trump has spoken out against NFL players protesting during the national anthem over the past two seasons. Jenkins has raised his fist to protest social injustices for most of that time. Jenkins is also one of the leaders of the Players Coalition, a group of players that appealed to the NFL owners about helping inner cities. The NFL recently pledged $89 million over several years for inner city programs.

Trump has called those players who have knelt "sons of bitches" and said the owners should fire them. 

"For me, there’s a lot going on with that administration, and I don’t think it’s the time to really have any productive or constructive conversations about policy," Jenkins said when asked why he has no interest in meeting with Trump. "I definitely want to avoid being used as a kind of a pawn. And the way things have gone over the past few months, I don’t think the time is right for that."

Pederson said it's up to each individual player to decide what to do.

"Excited to be going, to be honored as world champions," Pederson said. "I think it's a great honor. We're still working through some logistics right now, so we don't have all the details ... It's an individual basis (on players deciding to go or not). It's one of those things where we're working through a ton of things. At the same time, it's an individual decision."

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said he is trying to separate the politics in visiting the White House. But he also said he would do what a majority of the team wanted to do.

"I know, for me, personally, if the team decides as a whole that most guys want to go and be a part of it, I will be attending with them," Wentz said. "I think it's just a cool way to receive the honor, kind of nationally, and be recognized. I don't personally view it — I know some people do; everyone has their own opinion on it — as a political thing whatsoever.

"I don't mess with politics very often."

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.