Roger Goodell addressed the viral comments from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, and fans think it’s a rare win for the NFL Commissioner.
However, comparisons to Colin Kaepernick immediately came up.
Butker hit some nerves with his speech at Benedictine College’s commencement ceremony last week. He was especially criticized for his comments about women’s role in their families.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you,” he said.
“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Since then, there have been calls for Butker to be kicked out of the NFL, and a petition asking the Chiefs to release him is still in circulation.
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Fans Want To Know Why Colin Kaepernick Didn’t Get THe Same Grace From Roger Goodell
While the NFL distanced itself from the comments, seemingly condemning Butker, Roger Goodell didn’t have anything negative to say about the player. He suggested to reporters that Butker is entitled to his opinion like everyone else.
“We have over 3,000 players. We have executives around the league. They have diversity of opinions and thoughts just like America does,” he said, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “That’s something we treasure. That’s part of what ultimately makes us as a society better. We’re not going to go much beyond the statement we made last week.”
“Roger Goodell with the rare rational statement!” one fan wrote.
“This is the correct statement. Honestly rare W from Goodell,” another remarked.
Still, many of them wanted to know where that energy was when it was Colin Kaepernick’s turn.
Meanwhile, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have also spoken highly of Butker in their discussions with the media on Wednesday.
The player doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
