We’ve seen the video of Michael Bennett being held on the ground by police officers in Las Vegas after the Mayweather vs McGregor fight, who detained the Seahawks star in response to claims of shots being fired at the venue he was watching the fight in.
We’ve read the statements by both Bennett and the Vegas PD in response to the incident and yesterday things escalated even further when the Vegas police union sent a letter to the NFL officially requesting that the League open an investigation into Bennett’s ” obvious false accusations” against their police officers.
Well the union received its response from the League and it was loud and clear; nothing doing.
“There is no allegation of a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy and therefore there is no basis for an NFL investigation.” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
The Player’s Association also chimed in, with the NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith stating, “There are no grounds for the NFL to investigate our union rep, and I look forward to Roger confirming the same.”
In the letter to the League, Steve Grammas, President of the Las Vegas Police Protection Association, went right for the typical accusation regarding player protests during the national anthem, stating “While the NFL may condone Bennett’s disrespect for our American Flag, and everything it symbolizes, we hope the League will not ignore Bennett’s false accusations against our police officers.”
Obviously this legal form of silent protest is in response to social injustice, but it’s easier to frame player protests in this manner to garner immediate reaction on an emotional subject. Well Bennett’s attorney, John Burris, wasn’t having any of it.
He called the union’s questioning of Bennett’s integrity “outrageous.”
“To suggest he is lying without having conducted an investigation is ridiculous,” Burris told the Seattle Times.
We all know there’s a LOT more to come. Stay tuned.
