Another chapter in the book of the NFL’s saga with social justice is currently being written. Early last week, the NFL and its owners proposed to offer $100 million over the next seven years to social justice programs in an effort to curb injustice to African American individuals and families. After about a year and a half of player protests, constant debates, inconsistent suspensions and the President of the United States commanding that protests be ceased, the NFL has finally come to the decision to do something. While the NFL seeks to be proactive in making this offering, many are skeptical as to if this is really an effort to end social injustice or just a publicity stunt to gain positive public relations.

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Arising from Colin Kaepernick sitting and kneeling for the anthem about a full year and a half ago, players have been protesting the national anthem and fighting for social justice, which has maintained national press coverage and opened people’s eyes to the issue. While the protests have been peaceful and there have been activists working in the community, the issue has largely contributed to the involvement of politics in professional sports and negative reviews of the NFL as a whole. Clearly, the NFL intends to make a positive change in society and mitigate the negative effects they have encountered. The plan is still in the process of being approved, which would only happen all the way into March at the league’s annual player-owner meetings. According to ESPN, if approved, the $100 million in funds would be distributed to the United Negro College Fund (25 percent), Dream Corps (25 percent) and the Players Coalition (50 percent). The Players Coalition is a group of current and former NFL players who served as intermediaries between the NFL and other social justice organizations. Each of these organizations play important roles in facilitating social justice for African Americans, both at local and national levels.

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Despite the NFL making progress toward social justice, many of the NFL’s players were rather unappreciative on how the deal was struck. The Players Coalition, who negotiated the terms of the deal with the NFL, were forced to become an independent organization and cut ties with the NFL. Numerous players were dissatisfied with this element of the deal, including Dolphins’ safety Michael Thomas and 49ers safety Eric Reid, who tweeted “The Players Coalition was supposed to be formed as a group that represents NFL Athletes who have been silently protesting social injustices and racism.” They added “However, Malcolm [Jenkins] and Anquan [Boldin] can no longer speak on our behalf as we don't believe the coalition's beliefs are in our best interests as a whole." Some were additionally upset about how the NFL interacted with the coalition, stating that only Boldin and Jenkins, the leaders of the coalition, directly conversed with NFL personnel.

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Skeptics of this plan have also expressed that the $100 million donation is simply a “bribe” for players to stop protesting and a PR stunt to boost ratings. This view does sport some logic, especially considering Roger Goodell is in the process of having his contract extended and the quality of the game has been mediocre this year. As mentioned, many fans have tuned out the NFL because of the anthem protests, thus lessening their opinion of the league. No direct statement is made in the agreement concerning these protests ceasing, but the aforementioned Reid did say, in a statement to ESPN, that if there was a better way to bring about an awareness of social injustice, he would cease protesting. At the same time, though, Reid did say in that same statement the NFL was “...going about it the wrong way,” in trying to create social change. The Player’s Coalition, specifically Boldin, has emphatically stated that what the NFL has given is not a bribe, but rather “...a larger platform to amplify our [African Americans] voice.” Boldin objected the criticism of the plan in a conference call with reporters on December 4, saying ““Instead of people celebrating and getting behind the work people are doing and the collaboration between the NFL and its players as opposed to trying to tear it down, is ridiculous.”

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This plan is certainly a topic of controversy, as is pretty much anything relating to the anthem protests and social justice are. Regardless of what side of the coin one is on this issue, it cannot be denied that the NFL is making some kind of effort to mitigate social injustice in a peaceful and nonviolent manner. Rather than firing those who peacefully exercise their right to protest and deny people their inherent rights, they are contributing to a cause, and that is something respectable. Regardless of their motives or intentions, the NFL is taking a step in the right direction.